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ENGL 250: Methods of Literary Study (BMC)

Spring 2024; Gordon, Harford Vargas

Help with theory

Using Tripod

    Keyword Search:

         E.g.,    Awakening Chopin criticism

   Or Subject Search:

         E.g.,  Chopin, Kate > 1850-1904 > Awakening

                   Chopin, Kate > 1850-1904 > Criticism and interpretation

How do I find the books?

When you find a book in Tripod, check the locations to see which library it's in.

 

 

If the book is only available at Haverford or Swarthmore,  SIGN IN, then REQUEST to have the book delivered to Bryn Mawr! You'll receive an email when it arrives, usually in 24 hours.

 

How do I find where the book is shelved at Bryn Mawr?

Look at the book's "call number" to find its location. 

Book locations are listed here.

 

 

How are the call numbers arranged on the shelf?

Materials are shelved by the "Library of Congress" call number classification system. If you need help locating a book, please ask at the  Circulation desk!

 

What do I do if my book is checked out?
If the book is listed as "out of library" it may be checked out.  You can request a copy from outside the TriCollege Libraries by using EZ-Borrow / Interlibrary Loan.

 

Using the MLA International Bibliography

Peer Review, Authority and Conversation

Peer Review in 3 Minutes from North Carolina State University Library

Citing & Annotated Bibliographies

MLA Citation Style

Annotated Bibliography

Zotero Citation Manager

Zotero: The Tri-College Libraries recommend Zotero, a free online app that can format your bibliography, keep your citations organized, and even save your articles in the cloud so you can access them later.

Need help getting started? TriCo Guide to Zotero

Zotero workshops are listed in the LITS Events Calendar

Search Strategies

Search Strategies

Q: How can I search for sources more efficiently? 

 

  • First, identify the main concepts in your topic.   Example:  gender in 18th century literature

 

  • Find different keywords to describe those concepts.  Think of words that are likely to be used in the title, subject, author or table of contents.  MLAIB has a thesaurus which can help you identify related terms.

 

 

  • Try a search combining your terms.

 

  • When you find an interesting article or book, look at the subjects to find more search terms.

 

 

  • When you find a good article or book, look at the bibliography or references that the author cites to find other related sources.

 

  • As you continue your searching, you may need to slightly modify your topic. See NC State’s Finding the Perfect Source video:

https://www.lib.ncsu.edu/tutorials/perfect-source

 

  • Don’t be afraid to ask for help:

Email library@brynmawr.edu, or make an appointment with a librarian.  We’re happy to help you find good sources.