RHET 102 Literature Library Instruction Session I

This session will help you to complete Worksheet #1 / MLA Worksheet

1) What information am I looking for?

Background information
Once you have identified your topic and have compiled a list of keywords that describe it (print out this worksheet if you have not completed this step)
your next step is to find some sources of background information to read. These sources will help you understand the broader context of your research and tell you in general terms what is known about your topic. They will give you an idea of how much and what kind of information is available on your topic.

2) Where will I find the information?

Here are some good sources to consult:

Literature Resource Center

Link to Literature Resource Center

  The Literature Resource Center provides full text access to biographies, bibliographies, and critical analyses of authors from every age and literary discipline. Search by author, title, genre, literary movement or theme from major reference sources, scholarly journals, commissioned essays and interviews.

 
Link to on online video tutorial
Link to a sample search
     

I-Share
Link to
I-Share

 

Our online catalog will help you to locate books in our library as well as in other Illinois academic libraries. You may visit the I-Share libraries to borrow materials directly, or you may request to have them sent to the Benedictine Library via Interlibrary Loan.

I-Share will also help you to locate electronic texts (such as government publications).

  
Link to more information
on I-Share
Link to a sample search
     

Reference Books in Literature

Link to a list of
Literature resources in our Reference Collection

   The materials in our Reference Collection (encyclopedias, dictionaries, bibliographies, etc.) are available in both general and subject specific formats. If you are just beginning your research and need general background information, sources like the Encyclopedia Britannica or the Encyclopedia Americana can be good starting points. This list of subject specific materials can lead you to sources of background information in a particular discipline or subject area. If you have trouble finding a reference book to use for background information in your research, be sure to consult a librarian.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

3) How good is the information you have found?
Review "How to evaluate books"
4) How will I ethically use this information?

Register for RefWorks
 
  
  • Link to RefWorks and select Login to register.

  • You will learn how to export citations to RefWorks in Library Session II

Page updated September 4, 2007