EN 12 Web Companion

Stage 3: Prepare to Investigate Further

Select appropriate databases:

• Literary Criticism databases will help you locate scholarly journal articles and books.
  
• Consider using the Library Catalog, too.
• Want help selecting a database? Check out "Meet the Databases", below, to listen to a short, in-depth description of recommended databases on iTunesU. Don't have iTunes? Download iTunes for free. Want RealPlayer instead? Download RealPlayer for free.
  

Meet the Databases!

Photo	Literary Criticism Database	Listen
TOP PICKS:
	An Interview with Academic OneFile 2:06, by Leslie Porter. Starring Curtis Ferree & Leslie Porter. LINK: Academic OneFile	Listen-iTunes Listen-RealPlayer
	An Interview with Literature Online (LION) 2:15, by Leslie Porter. Starring Leslie Porter & Keith Stetson LINK: Literature Online (LION) LINK: Video: Searching LION demo	Listen-iTunes Listen-RealPlayer
	Literature Criticism Online LINK: Literature Criticism Online
ALSO WORTH CONSIDERING:
	An Interview with Google Scholar 1:22, by Leslie Porter. Starring Leslie Porter & Devin Hagan LINK: Google Scholar LINK: Google Scholar Guide LINK: Video: How to Set Preferences	Listen-iTunes Listen-RealPlayer
	An Interview with JSTOR 2:19, by Leslie Porter. Starring Leslie Porter & Elise Bochinski LINK: JSTOR	Listen-iTunes Listen-RealPlayer
	Literature Resource Center LINK: Literature Resource Center
	An Interview with Project MUSE 2:14, by Leslie Porter. Starring Leslie Porter & Ramona Islam LINK: Project MUSE	Listen-iTunes Listen-RealPlayer
	Twayne's Authors Series LINK: Twayne's Authors Series

Meet other useful databases!
on the Library's iTunes U site, at: www.fairfield.edu/itunesu or from the library's website, at http://www.fairfield.edu/lib_podcasts.html.

Develop a list of Keywords and subject terms:

After reading or scanning your background sources, write down important keywords that you discover on your topic. Then, add additional terms that are synonyms for these keywords. Remember to include alternate spellings. Additional keywords can be added throughout the research process.

Example: If my topic is the use of magic as a metaphor for technology in Harry Potter, I might develope a keyword list that looks like this:

Many of the terms in your keyword list may not turn up anything useful by themselves or in combination with other terms, so it's best to develop a generous list, providing yourself with several options.

>>Proceed to Stage 4: Search & Retrieve >>

<< Return to Stage 2: Determine Best Sources <<

For additional help, contact:

• A Reference Librarian
  • In-person at the Reference Desk
  • By phone at (203) 254-4000 ext. 2178
  • By e-mail at reference@mail.fairfield.edu
  • Via Web chat (available 24/7) at
    http://www.fairfield.edu/lib_askalibrarian.html
  • By Instant Message at fairfieldulib (AOL and Yahoo)
    fairfieldulib@hotmail.com (MSN)
• The Writing Center
  • http://www.fairfield.edu/writingcenter