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Introduction to Library Research: Literature and Authors

This session covers secondary sources, citation styles, reference tools, and databases for literature research. Learn to locate books, articles, and properly cite resources.

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Introduction to Library Research: Literature and Authors

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  1. Introduction to Library Research: Literature and Authors ENG 120 Birnbaum Library

  2. Session Objectives • Understand the nature and potential uses of a variety of secondary sources. • Locate books pertaining to your research topic using the Pace Library Catalog. • Find articles on your topic in library databases. • Cite resources correctly using MLA documentation style.

  3. What are Secondary Sources? • Secondary Sources provide context, analysis, and criticism. • Magazines • Scholarly Journals • Scholarly Books • Primary and Tertiary? • Primary – Original works, Firsthand Accounts, News • Novels, performances, memoirs, letters, newspaper stories. • Tertiary – Summary or listing of accepted knowledge. • Typical reference books and websites

  4. Questions to Consider • Can you phrase your topic in terms of a question or thesis statement? • What are the key concepts in your research question or thesis statement? • What kinds of information will you need to answer the question you are asking, or support the thesis you are proposing?

  5. Reference Tools… • Can familiarize you with a subject area or discipline. • Can help you focus your topic. • Can lead you to other useful books and articles. • Are an excellent place to start your research.

  6. Twayne’s Author Series • Provides the full text of 200 frequently used Twayne Literary Masters books on individual World, US, or English authors • E-books with biographical information and critical interpretation of works

  7. Magill on Literature Plus • Author Biographies • Brief critical analysis of works • Electronic access to print reference tools such as: • Cyclopedia of World Authors • Critical Survey of Short Fiction • Masterplots

  8. Literature Resource Center • Contains biographical and bibliographical information on authors. • Provides full-text access to literary criticism from standard reference sources. • Contemporary Authors • Contemporary Literary Criticism • Dictionary of Literary Biography

  9. Finding Books • Use the Library Catalog to find out what we have and where to find it. • To find materials on a given topic, perform a Keyword search • Write down the Subjects assigned to titles of interest, then search for those subjects

  10. Subject vs. Keyword Searching • Keyword searches target entire records in the library catalog. They allow you to look for words in the titles, descriptions, and subject headings of books and other materials. • Subject searches target only the Library of Congress subject headings that have been assigned to materials. Search terms must match subject headings exactly.

  11. When a person is your topic • Choose the Subject search option • Last name first, First name last • Ibsen, Henrik • Subject Heading subdivisions • Bibliography • Characters • Criticism and Interpretation

  12. Finding Articles • Library Databases provide access to articles (citations, abstracts and/or full text) published in periodicals. • Use a database that is appropriate to the subject area you are researching. • Databases are subscription products available on campus (or off with your MyPace Portal username and password)

  13. Suggested Databases • MLA Bibliography • Provides access to journal articles, and also lists chapters in books • JSTOR • Use the “Advanced Search” screen for more precise searching • Academic Search Premier • Research Library • Watch for book and theater reviews!

  14. Citing Your Sources! • When you build upon the ideas of others, you always need to give appropriate credit for those ideas. • Failure to do so may result in a charge of plagiarism. • Always use a conventional documentation style so that your reader can determine which sources you used.

  15. MLA Citation Style • MLA (Modern Language Association) style is generally used in the humanities. Other styles include APA (American Psychological Association) and Chicago. • See the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (on reserve at the Birnbaum Library Circulation Desk) for more information, or visit the guide to Citing Resources on the Library home page.

  16. Components of an MLA Citation (Article from a Library Database) Author, “Article Title.” Publication Title Volume#.Issue# (Year of Publication): page#-page#. Database Name. Database Vendor. Subscribing Library. Access Date <Database URL>.

  17. Questions? Birnbaum Library Reference Desk: (212) 346-1331 Library Home Page: http://library.pace.edu

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