Academic articles in the humanities and interdisciplinary studies are generally written by a single author. The author conducted the necessary research and developed their own unique argument or thesis based on that research. Therefore, it is important to note who the author is of any scholarship you read.
Knowing who wrote the article you are reading helps you to be an informed reader. As you pay attention to the scholars you read, consider the following: have you read articles by this scholar before; has your instructor mentioned this author; have you seen the author's name cited in other sources or bibliographies? Authors respected for the quality and insightfulness of their work are cited frequently by other scholars.
You will typically be asked to discuss the article in class or in writing, so be sure you are using the proper pronouns for the author in your discussion. If you are unsure of how to pronounce the author’s name, check with your instructor or look the scholar up online!
Scholarly articles have been vetted by experts, but that does not mean that the information presented is “fact.” Indeed, scholarly articles are thesis-driven, meaning that the author is making an argument based on the research they have conducted. However, the particulars of the argument are shaped by the author, or scholar, and their personal experience will likely impact their approach. Knowing a little about the author can help to clue you, the reader, into their approach, level of expertise, or potential biases. Often, the credentials and affiliation of the author will be included somewhere in the article. If not, or if that doesn’t tell you much, look the author up!
Consider these questions:
Where did they receive their degree(s)?
Where do they work now?
What other scholarship have they published?
Are other books or articles by the author related to the article you are about to read?
What attributes of the author may help you understand his or her perspective (race, ethnicity, gender, etc.) on the topic at hand?
Answers to these questions can help you understand who the authors are, and what expertise, bias, or methodology they bring to their scholarship.