Where do I find a biography about my author?
What are the best databases to search for recent scholarship about my short story?
How can I determine if a source is peer reviewed?
How do I narrow my search to find information from a particular period after my short story appeared?
How do I narrow my search to find information on a theme from my short story within that period immediately following publication?
How do I compare articles published in periodicals from England, Ireland, and Scotland?
How do I create an MLA style annotated bibliography?
Digital Search Strategies
Natural Language Search
A natural language search is a search using your regular spoken language. This type of search is popularized by Google, but is not well supported by scholarly databases and catalogs.
Boolean Search
A boolean search uses phrases placed in quotes strung together by either and, or, or not. This type of search is what you should use when working within scholarly databases and catalogs. Boolean searches allow you to expand your search using "and," contract it using "not," and choose between options using "or."
Advanced Search
Advanced search asks you to fill in information to use the database or catalog's own indexes to search. Both Natural Language and Boolean search strategies assume you are using the main search box in any given database or catalog. That main search box is generally front and center on a page. Advanced Search generally requires you to click a link to find it. While using Advanced Search may seem more complicated, it is worth using as it is more powerful.
Physical Search Strategies
Indexes
Indexes are multi-volume reference guides to information within a scholarly field, such as Nineteenth Century Literary Criticism (FOLIO PN761.N5), Twentieth Century Literary Criticism (FOLIO PN 771.T83), or Short Story Criticism (FOLIO PN3373.S387). Kept in the UI Reference area on the first floor of the main library, indexes give you information on individual works and are considered tertiary sources (sources about sources).
Monographs
Monographs are books of scholarship created by a single author. Search for monographs in InfoHawk+ by typing in your topic (place phrases and names in quotation marks) and then limiting your results on the left hand side of the page to Resource Type: Books. Monographs when published by a university press or reputable trade press are peer reviewed. Books may be either digital (e-Books) or physical. Monographs are considered secondary sources (sources about the primary source).
Edited Volumes
Edited volumes include contributions by multiple authors. Search for edited volumes in InfoHawk+ by typing in your topic (place phrases and names in quotation marks) and then limiting your results on the left hand side of the page to Resource Type: Books. You'll know it's an edited volume when the result says Book Chapter above the title. Edited volumes may be either digital (e-Books) or physical. Most edited volumes are peer reviewed, but not all. Edited volumes are considered secondary sources (sources about the primary source).