ENG 240 Introduction to Shakespeare

If you need a refresher on the research process, or if you're new to research, please see our ENG152 Database Searching guide to help you. Pay special attention to steps of the research process:

1. Identify your information need (often guided by the requirements of your assignment)
2. Pre-research (background info, keywords, learn about topic)
3. Create a research statement or question (often guided by your assignment)
4. Develop a search strategy. (Where will you look for information? This will depend on your what kind of information you need.)
5. Search for information. (Choose a search tool and test your keywords.)
6. Evaluate the sources you find.
7. Answer question and cite sources

What is Your Information Need?

Look to your assignment. What kind of information do you need to find? Depending on the assignment, you may have multiple information needs.

1. Information need: research a Shakespeare adaptation

Background Information (or Pre-Research)

• If you haven't chosen an adaptation yet, this is a good opportunity to identify one.
• Learn more about Shakespeare adaptations in general, as well as your chosen adaptation. 

Search Tool

• The Library Catalog: eBooks are a great format for finding a lot information about your topic all in one place.
• To locate only eBooks, filter your results by Available Online and Books. 

2. Information need: compare your adaptation to the original play and provide insights.

Background Information

• Consider referring to the information in any of the eBooks you used previously. You also need sources that provide critical perspectives on your adaptation.

Search Tools

• Library Databases: Our Literature databases will be a good source for information on all things Shakespeare.

3. Information need: research from other scholars.

Search Tools

• Library Databases: Many of our databases contain information from other scholars and their research on Shakespeare.

Search Strategy

• Save time and search multiple databases at once!

EBSCO

1. Go to the A to Z List of databases.
2. Click E, then select EBSCO Databases. Select All, then click Continue.
3. You might start with a broad search using the keywords Shakespeare and adaptations, then revise your search with other keywords you found previously or from the articles you find here. Try including the name of the original play as you revise your searches.
4. Always click the Full Text limiter. Also click the Peer Reviewed limiter because you're looking for scholarly sources.

All Literature Databases from Gale

1. Go to the A to Z List of databases.
2. Click L, then select Literature (Gale).
3. Use their Person Search and Works Search tools to find sources on William Shakespeare or any of his works.
4. This will be a broad search and return many results. Click Search Within or use Advanced Search to add keywords. Be sure to click the Full Text and Peer Reviewed limiters. 
5. Keep an eye on the different information formats. Even when you limit to peer reviewed sources, you may see book reviews, theater reviews, or other sources that aren't useful for this research.