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ENGL:1200 The Interpretation of Literature - Helm, Fall 2024: Home

Finding Books on WorldCat

WorldCat is valuable for finding published items that are not held at the University of Iowa Libraries. It is the world's most comprehensive catalog of items held by libraries, particularly libraries in North America. If InfoHawk+ doesn't have what you are looking for, try WorldCat - it contains over 2 billion records! And many of those items are available for you to borrow through Interlibrary Loan.

Use the "Libraries worldwide that own item" link to see which libraries have the items you want. You can then "Request item" from the link on WorldCat. Not everything that you see on WorldCat can be borrowed, but it's worth checking into!

Search for an item in libraries near you:
WorldCat.org >>

Annotated Bibliography Resources

Browse these resources to learn more about creating an annotated bibliography:

Cornell University - How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography

Purdue OWL - Annotated Bibliographies

Overview

The databases listed in this guide are the best bets for finding materials for ENGL:1200, Fall 2024. They will contain many credible and relevant resources for your assignment. 

When searching for critical interpretations of your one or two selected texts, remember that the sources don't have to agree with your thesis. Sometimes, the arguments made by someone with opposing claims provides an opportunity to strengthen your own interpretation.

Each database will have tips and hints on how to use it. Don't be afraid of tutorials and help buttons.

Remember to cite your sources. Tips on MLA citations can be found here and here.

If you have questions or problems, contact your librarian!

General Research Tips

  • Generate a list of your search terms and any synonyms.
  • Search for each term in InfoHawk+ and our databases. If you find a promising resource, look at the subjects that are listed in its record.
  • Pro Tip: Once you are in InfoHawk+, click on the "Sign In" link in the upper right corner. Sign in with your HawkID and password and you will be able to pin resources, request items more easily, and save searches.
  • If searching for a phrase, insert quotation marks around the phrase.
  • Limit your search by a date range if you only want results from certain years. 
  • To limit to peer-reviewed, scholarly, or academic article (lots of words for the same idea!), select "Peer-reviewed journal" from the left side of InfoHawk+. (Some databases have a peer-reviewed filter as well!)
  • Try your search terms in multiple databases.
  • You can also search in WorldCat to find resources not held by the University of Iowa and then request through ILL. 
  • Look at the footnotes and bibliography of scholarly articles and dissertations - they can lead you to related sources!
  • The first sources that you find may not be the best. Keep looking!

Janalyn Moss

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Janalyn Moss
(she/her)
Contact:
319/335-5698

Sample search terms

Popular vs. Scholarly