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English 102

This guide will help ENG 102 students understand the research process and find the resources needed for written assignments.

A Note on Reference Resources

Reference resources can help you begin to develop an approach to the work you want to write about, but they are not meant to be used as sources in a research paper. Despite this, we recommend beginning the research process by consulting reference works. Good reference works will help the reader to 

  • Understand what has been written about a work previously. Is your interpretation of the work common? Will your paper provide a unique perspective? Is your point of view controversial?
  • Refine database searches by providing accurate, topic-specific keywords.
  • Find original or secondary research to support your argument. Good reference works provide a bibliography with highly-regarded sources.

Ultimately, reference sources help to reduce the amount of time it takes to research a topic. By condensing some of the information into a short article, the researcher quickly gains an understanding of the topic.

Reference Resources - Best Bets

While there are many helpful reference resources, both online and in the library itself, these "best bet" reference resources are a good starting point for your research.

American Poetry

  • Kellman, Steven G., editor. Magill’s Survey of American Literature. Magill, 2007.
    REF 810.90003 M273 2007
  • Magill, Frank N., editor. Critical Survey of Poetry. Salem Press, 1982.
    REF 821.009 C869
  • Magill, Frank. N., editor. Masterplots II: Poetry Series. Salem Press, 1992.
    REF 809.1 M393PO
  • Padgett, Ron, editor. World Poets. Scribners, 2000.
    REF 809.1 W893 2000
  • Parini, Jay, editor. The Oxford Encyclopedia of American Literature. Oxford University Press, 2004.
    REF 810.3 Ox2
  • Scribner’s American Writers [multi-volume series]. Charles Scribner and Sons, 1979-.
    REF 810.9 Am35un
     

American Short Fiction

  • Kellman, Steven G., editor. Magill’s Survey of American Literature. Magill, 2007.
    REF 810.90003 M273 2007
  • Kellman, Steven G., editor. Masterplots II: American Fiction Series. Salem Press, 2000.
    REF 809.3 M393AM 2000
  • Magill, Frank N., editor. Critical Survey of Short Fiction. Salem Press, 1981.
    REF 809.3 C869
  • Magill, Frank. N., editor. Masterplots II: Short Story Series. Salem Press, 1986.
    REF 809.3 M393SH
  • May, Charles, editor. Masterplots II: Short Story Series, Revised Edition. Salem Press, 2004.
    REF 809.3 M393SH 2004
  • Parini, Jay, editor. The Oxford Encyclopedia of American Literature. Oxford University Press, 2004.
    REF 810.3 Ox2
  • Scribner’s American Writers [multi-volume series]. Charles Scribner and Sons, 1979-.
    REF 810.9 Am35un

 

Appalachian Authors

  • Abramson, Rudy and Jean Haskell, editors. Encyclopedia of Appalachia. University of Tennessee Press, 2006.
    APP 975.003 En19 2006
  • Ward, William S. A Literary History of Kentucky. University of Tennessee Press, 1988.
    APP 810.9 W219

 

British Poetry

  • Drabble, Margaret, editor. The Oxford Companion to English Literature. Oxford University Press, 2000.
    REF 820.9 Ox2 2000
  • Kastan, David Scott, editor. The Oxford Encyclopedia of British Literature. Oxford University Press, 2006.
    REF 820.3 Ox2
  • Magill, Frank N., editor. Critical Survey of Poetry. Salem Press, 1982.
    REF 821.009 C869
  • Magill, Frank. N., editor. Masterplots II: Poetry Series. Salem Press, 1992.
    REF 809.1 M393PO
  • Padgett, Ron, editor. World Poets. Scribners, 2000.
    REF 809.1 W893 2000
  • Scribner’s British Writers [multi-volume series]. Charles Scribner and Sons, 1984-.
    REF 820.9 B777

 

Drama

  • McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of World Drama. McGraw-Hill, 1972.
    REF 809.2 M78