ENGL 301: Critical Methods in the Study of Literature

Tim HackmanLibrarian for English & Linguistics

thackman@umd.edu / 301-314-8521

Finding Criticism in Books

Your professor has recommended the following book for your research:

Demons of the Body and Mind: Essays on Disability in Gothic Literature. Ruth Bienstock Anolik, ed. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 2010

Demons of the Body and Mind: Essays on Disability in Gothic Literature

• Do the UM Libraries own this book?

• If so, in what library and section is it located?

• What is the call number?• Is it available, or is it

checked out?

Demons of the Body and Mind: Essays on Disability in Gothic Literature

• What is the first subject heading listed for this book?

• How many other books in our catalog have the same subject heading?

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Morrison, Toni – Criticism and Interpretation

• How many books are in the UM Libraries catalog with this subject heading?

• What is the title of one of these books published in 2011?

Library of Congress Subject Headings

More useful headings:• Criticism and Interpretation• Bibliography• Biography• Characters• Correspondence• Interviews• Political and Social Views

Finding Criticism in Journals

MLA International Bibliography

• Literary criticism, language, linguistics, rhetoric & folklore

• Multiple countries, languages• Books, book chapters, journal

articles, dissertations, conference proceedings, etc.

• 1920 to present

MLA International Bibliography

• Search for items related to transnationalism AND African or African American literature

• What search terms did you use?

• How many results did you get?

• What types of items did you find?

MLA International Bibliography

• What are 3 ways you could narrow this search?

• What are 3 more subject terms that would be useful for this research topic?

Thank You

Tim HackmanLibrarian for English & Linguistics

thackman@umd.edu301-314-8521