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Maria Garcia's ENGL 1302

This guide provides titles of and links to library resources that can help you with your writing assignments: Plato's cave, movies, "First Confession," literary terms & criticism, etc. Good luck with your research and let me know if you need help at any time!

Elluminate recordings for 9/16 & 9/21 2008 can be found @ http://elluminatelive.accd.edu

I. Define Topic - list what you KNOW v. what you want to FIND OUT

Essay 1?

Essay 2?

Long Essay?


II. Devise Strategy - create a flexible search plan, list key words/names

If you're researching a particular work, you basically have two elements to work with: the author's name & the title of the work. Same thing for movies. Use the title of the movie and other keywords to find reviews. Use those to do your search:

  • oconnor, frank
  • oconnor AND first confession
  • oconnor AND criticism
  • plato AND cave
  • plato AND republic
  • plato AND republic AND criticism
  • plato AND republic AND cave
  • plato AND criticism
  • matrix AND movie AND review
  • matrix AND film AND review

If you're researching a particular topic, such as "postpartum depression" (from "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Gilman), then you need to list as many synonyms and related key words as possible. Use the list of words to create multiple combinations with the word AND in order to have a successful search:

  • depression, postpartum, baby blues
  • childbirth, labor, pregnancy
  • women, mothers, female
depression
and
women
and
childbirth
or
 
or
 
or
postpartum
and
gender
and
pregnancy
or
 
or
 
or
baby blues
and
mother*
and
birth*

So...what's the difference between KEYWORD v. SUBJECT searching?

  • Keyword search = to combine key words or for more specific search; finds items that contain your keywords
  • Subject search = for broad search or when you know terminology; finds items that are about that topic

TIPS: Use symbols such as the * at the end of key words to pick up alternate endings. mother* will find mother, mothers, etc.

Use keyword and subject searching together: start with a keyword search, find an item that's relevant, then look for subject headings within item descriptions and incorporate those subject words into your search strategy.

 

III. Search Sources

A. Reference sources - background info, facts, critiques

Online databases require a login from off-campus.You can get login info HERE. (What does the login page look like?)

Sources labeled Ref are in print and available at the SAC Library, 2nd floor reference room. You can also check your local library catalog to see if they own a copy.

Location & Call No. Reference Source Title
Online database Literature Resource Center (see: screen shot 1; screen shot 2)
Online database Magill on Literature (see: screen shot)
Ref PA3002 .A5 Ancient Writers: Greece and Rome
Ref PN610.C53 Classical and Medieval Literature Criticism
Ref PN50 .L574 Literature and its times : profiles of 300 notable literary works and the historical events that influenced them
Ref PN523 .W67 World Literature Criticism: 1500 to the present
Ref PN3321.S5 Short Story Criticism
Ref PN3373.S56 Short Stories for Students
Ref PN1010.P6 Poetry Criticism
Ref PQ7081.A1H573 Hispanic Literature Criticism
Ref PN1993.3 .M34 Magill's Cinema Annual (1982-2007; look in the last vol. - index by Title; offers an in-depth review and listing of other published reviews)
Ref PN1995 .F463 Film Review Annual (1981-2001; collection of published reviews)
Online database CQ Researcher (social issues, hot topics)
Online database Opposing Viewpoints (social issues, hot topics)
Online database Gale Virtual Reference Library (reference for all topics; see: screen shot on "confession of sins")
Online database Facts.com (World Almanac, hot topics)
Online database Oxford Reference Online (reference for all topics, literary terms!)
Online database Oxford English Dictionary (the dictionary to end all dictionaries!)

NOTE: The Ref print sources above contain both partial AND complete critical essays. Look for the phrase "in the following essay" to find the full critique.



B. BOOKS, VIDEOS, other items - in-depth info

  • QuickSearch Books & Media (Catalog)

    By:     Search for:


  • Remember the old timey Card Catalog? There were 3 ways you could search it: Author, Title, SUBJECT
  • With the online Catalog, start with a Keyword, then look for Subject headings.

  • NetLibrary (eBooks) - try a Keyword or Full Text search; put phrases "in quotes"
  • How to check out books & eBooks

eBook

C. periodical ARTICLES - highlight specific aspects

Online databases require a login from off-campus.You can get login info HERE. (What does the login page look like?)

NOTE: If the full-text of the article isn't available online use the Journal Locator. Just type in the periodical title to see if SAC Library owns a paper copy or if another database offers full-text.

D. free WEB SITES - spin the wheel, see what you get!


IV. Evaluate and Cite your sources

Research Process

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One of the Alamo Community Colleges. The Alamo Community College District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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