Chesapeake College Learning Resource Center

English 102

Critical Analysis of an Author

The following handout is provided for the ENG 102 research project.

HANDOUTS include Database sheet and ENG 102 Pathfinder.

When teaching the class, you will need to display the following link:

http://www.chesapeake.edu/libray/library.htm

OUTCOMES

1. Students will be able to distinguish between biographical and critical resources.

2. Students will know the difference between critical analysis and reviews.

3. Students will be able to locate both print and electronic sources, which contain critical analysis of an author.

4. Students will be able to properly cite sources both parenthetically and on a Works Cited Page.

ACTIVITIES

I.                   Go over Reference Books

A.        Biographical information

        1. Give background information 

        2.  Helps to find out about author’s gender, nationality, genre, time

            period, etc.

3. Examples

a.        Dictionary of American Biography

b.         American Writers

c.         Oxford Companion Series

d.         Genre-based reference: Mystery and Suspense Writers, Science Fiction: an illustrated encyclopedia

ACRL STANDARD 1.1

B.        Critical Information

1.  Novels for Students (as well as Short Stories for Students)

2.  Authors and Artists for Young Adults (in Cambridge, but accessible to all students)

3.  Magill’s Surveys (drama, poetry, science fiction, short fiction, etc.)

II.        Show how to use the Catalog

A.        Subject – look for books about your author and analysis of his works by typing in the last name, first name, then clicking on the Subject button.

B.        Find books, which contain analysis of your author’s works along with other writers of similar backgrounds by typing in your author’s last name, first name, then clicking on the keyword button.

C.       Find more books, which contain analysis of your author’s works and others by doing a power search.  Type in some of the information you learned from the reference books:

For Alice Walker, type in:

                        African American

                        Woman

                        Writer

Other keywords might be: contemporary or modern, 20^th century, Southern

ACRL STANDARD 1.1

III.                  Search for Periodical Articles

A.        ProQuest – Online database of periodicals, including journal articles – search using “Peer reviewed” option.

B.        Academic Search Elite

ACRL STANDARD 1.1

IV.               Demonstrate the use of Electronic Sources

A.       Internet Databases

1.  ProQuest

2.  Literature Resource Center – biographical, critical, and bibliographic information as well as links to Web sites.

3.  Critical Companions to Popular Contemporary Authors

4.  Lion

5.  Magill’s

B.       Web Sites

1.  ENG 102 suggested resources on the LRC Home Page.

2.  Use Google

3.  Show Resources by Subject

4.  Show Resources by Class (ENG 102)

ACRL STANDARD 2.1-5

VIII.      Give instruction on properly citing and documenting resources using the

            Power Point.   ACRL STANDARD 5

IX.        Take the students to the reference and circulation shelves and assist in

            finding books.

 updated 2/04 ams

If there is inaccurate information on this page, please send correction or comments to: lrcdesk@chesapeake.edu