Subject Areas
Don't forget to browse the stacks!
Our library uses the Library of Congress Classification system.
To get started searching our physical collection, we recommend starting here:
P Philogy
PB Modern Languages
PE English Language
PN Literature (General)
PR English Literature
PS American Literature
If you are still unsure of where to look, please visit the info desk to ask for library student assistance.
Need off-campus access?
Library Services now uses OpenAthens as a proxy server! Follow these steps:
Welcome to the English Department Research Guide!
The purpose of a Research Guide is to help get you started on your research projects. On this page, you will find our librarian's recommendations for best resources for your subject. This includes relevant resources, such as subject specific databases, citation format guidance, search tips, and contact information of the subject librarian.
Require further assistance? Reach out to your subject librarian! We are always happy to help.
Best Bets: Databases
Unsure of which Databases to search for English content?
Alternate Name(s) Oxford University Press
16000+ scholarly books in 20 subjects with an estimated 1000 additional titles per year
Find over 600 peer-reviewed journals with deep back-file coverage in 20 disciplines. Browsing journals by discipline includes the following subjects: Health Sciences, Life & Biomedical Sciences, Materials Sciences & Engineering, Social Sciences & Humanities, etc.
Designed for academic institutions, this database is a leading resource for scholarly research. It supports high-level research in the key areas of academic study by providing journals, periodicals, reports, books and more.
The Chronicle aims to empower academe and others with insights to enable higher education to build on its capacity to be a powerful force for good. Get the latest information on the ever-evolving world of higher education through a source that values integrity, independence, spirit of generosity, and excellence.
JSTOR provides access to more than 12 million academic journal articles, books, and primary sources in 75 disciplines.
Search Tips
Getting Started:
When searching in any search engine, (databases, library catalog, google scholar, etc.) it is best to use keywords rather than typing the full question or topic. For example, if your question is:
"
Remover the filler words such as "". Break the question in categories & think of synonyms such as this:
Think Who:
Think What:
Think Where:
Next, brainstorm synonyms OR related words. You may type words such as these in the search bar:
Advanced Search Tips:
Using Boolean Operators (AND, OR, NOT)
Boolean operators are used to either refine or expand your search. They are place in between your keywords to yield more specific search results.
Too Few Results
AND
For example:
Too Many Results
OR, NOT
For example:
So, how do you organize all of that information to ensure you're giving credit to the author(s)?
For online resources, we recommend Purdue Owl at: https://owl.purdue.edu/ to get started.
Remember - this to get started, you do not want to copy and paste! It is a tool to help you build the bones of your citation - always edit before turning your work in!
For a book or eBook, we recommend:
Unsure if you should use a source for your research?
Check out this nifty acronym. Oh CRAAP! I can't tell if this source is credible...