This guide works best by accessing it within Atlas or Canvas.
Follow these steps:
Note: If you do not access this guide through Atlas or Canvas, you will be prompted for a Borrower ID and PIN when you click on the links to library resources
Remember that although many of the library databases provide MLA citations for electronic sources, it is your responsibility as a student to ensure that all of your citations are correct.
Be sure to compare any database generated citations to the library's MLA guides online (link below), the official MLA Handbook (located at the second floor Reference Desk), or your Little Seagull Handbook.
Overview Articles -- provide an overview of themes, plot summary, historical context. Usually found in reference books, such as: Literature in Its Times, Drama for Students, Short Stories for Students, etc. These may be searched online through the Virtual Reference Library database.
Literary Criticism/Analysis -- analysis of an author's writing style, themes, images, etc. These are usually found in scholarly journals. They are written by experts, who have an advanced degree in literature and reviewed by other experts before publication in a process called peer review. The language is often technical, and the intended audience is scholars and students. The articles are often lengthy. These articles can be found in Artemis Literary Sources and JSTOR.
Biographical -- an overview of an author's life. The Dictionary of Literary Biography is particularly helpful as it discusses an author's literary influence and what influenced him or her. It can be found in Artemis Literary Sources or searched separately.
Search the library catalog to find books and/or ebooks on your subject. Keep in mind that books may not be as up-to-date as articles from newspapers or magazines.
