Select a Topic
Begin by selecting a topic. Your initial topic can be broad - an author, a literary movement, a literary work... You will narrow your topic later, so it is okay if you only have vague ideas now. For now, we want to find background information about the topic so that we can decide what research question(s) to pursue. Your professor or a librarian can help you explore topics.
Biography
Start by learning about your author and their historical/social context. What kind of world did they live in, and how did that influence their understanding of the world and their writing?
- Bloom's Literature This link opens in a new windowContains essays and criticism from encyclopedias and books examining the lives of great authors and their works throughout history. Also includes full-length videos of classic plays, information on literary characters, and more. (NVCC)
- Films on Demand This link opens in a new window
This link opens in a new window
Educational videos on a variety of topics including humanities, social sciences, business, economics, science, mathematics, health, medicine, technical education, family and consumer sciences, careers and job search, guidance and counseling and archival films and newsreels. (NVCC, VCCS)
Form a Research Question
Narrow your interest and decide what question your paper will answer. It seems counterintuitive, but a narrow topic is actually easier to research than a broad one.
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Edgar Allan Poe |
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Dark Romanticism |
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How do Poe and Hawthorne use symbolism in their short stories? |