Writing One's Life and Times (Senior Seminar)
German 411
Fall 2006

Verena Stefan: Häutungen (Shedding)

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How to Find:
Books | Journal Articles | Citing Sources

FINDING BOOKS

See the German Research Guide on Finding Books.

Using Subject Headings and Descriptors

Search by Keyword and look for Subject Headings in individual records.
To modify a search:

• Use words from the Subject Heading in a Keyword search
• Click on the Subject Heading itself

Examples of Subject Headings:

• Feminism and literature
• Feminism and literature -- Europe, German-speaking
• Literature, Modern -- Women authors -- History and criticism
• Literature, Modern -- 20th century -- Women authors -- History and criticism
• German literature
• German literature -- 20th century
• German literature -- 20th century -- History and criticism
• German literature -- Women authors -- History and criticism
• Stefan, Verena, 1947-
• Women and literature
• Women in literature

What's in the Reference Collection

Background Sources

• Encyclopedia of German literature / edited by Matthias Konzett
  Ref. PT91 .E53 2000 v.1-2
• The feminist encyclopedia of German literature / edited by Friederike Eigler and Susanne Kord
  Ref. PT41 .F46 1997
• The Oxford companion to German literature / by Henry and Mary Garland
  Ref. PT41 .G3 1997
• A companion to twentieth-century German literature / Raymond Furness and Malcolm Humble
  Ref. PT401 .C64 1997

Bibliographies

• Contemporary authors of the German-speaking countries of Europe : a selective bibliography / Margrit B. Krewson
• Ref. Z2233 .K79 1988
• Women writers in German-speaking countries : a bio-bibliographical critical sourcebook / edited by Elke P. Frederiksen and Elizabeth G. Ametsbichler
  Ref. PT167 .W6
• Women writers of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland : an annotated bio-bibliographical guide / edited by Elke Frederiksen
  Ref. Z 2233.5.W6 W66 1989
• Deutsches Schrifttum der Gegenwart <ab 1945>
  Ref. Z2233.3 .G54
• Wilhelminisches Zeitalter
  Ref. Z2233 .G63

Don't forget to use bibliographies contained in reference books, annotated bibliographies, circulating books, and journal articles!

FINDING JOURNAL ARTICLES

Sources for Citations and Articles

MLA International Bibliography (1963- ) < about >

JSTOR < about >
Some of the literature titles in JSTOR:
New German Critique (1973-2002)
MLN (1962-1994)
Modern Language Notes (1886-1961)

Project MUSE < about >
Some of the literature titles in Project MUSE:
Comparative Literature Studies (2000- )
Journal of Modern Literature (1998-)
MLN (1993- )
MLQ: Modern Language Quarterly (1999- )

Proquest Research Library < about >
Includes a "Research Module" that can be limited to peer reviewed articles

General Reference Center Gold < about >

Academic OneFile < about >

OmniFile < about >

Humanities Abstracts (1984- ) < about >

Essay and General Literature Index (1985- ) < about >

Types of Periodicals

Scholarly Journals (Feminist Review)

• Authors are scholars or researchers in their fields.
• Authors cite their sources in footnotes, endnotes, and bibliographies.
• Individual issues have little or no advertising.
• Articles must go through a peer-review process.
• Articles usually report original scholarly research.
• Most illustrations are charts, figures, or graphs.
• Authors use the specialized language or jargon of the discipline.

Popular Magazines (Poets & Writers Magazine)

• Authors are free lance writers or magazine staff members.
• Authors may mention sources, but rarely cite them in notes or bibliographies.
• Individual issues contain many advertisements.
• There is no peer review process. Articles are reviewed by editors or publishers.
• Illustrations are numerous and colorful.
• Articles are meant to inform and entertain an educated audience.
• Language is written for the general adult audience (no specialized jargon).

Scholarly or Not?
Use Ulrich's Online < about >
Document Type MUST say "Academic/Scholarly Publication" to be considered scholarly!

When evaluating sources, pay attention to:

1. Accuracy
How reliable is the information? Are there editors and fact checkers?
2. Authority
What are the author's qualifications? Is the publisher reputable?
3. Objectivity
Is the author trying to sway opinion? Is the information free from bias?
4. Currency
Is the publication date indicated? Is the source up to date?
5. Coverage
Does the site cover the topic comprehensively, or are there information gaps?

Don't forget to use bibliographies contained in reference books, annotated bibliographies, circulating books, and journal articles!

CITING YOUR SOURCES in the MLA style

Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA handbook for writers of research papers.
5th ed., New York : Modern Language Association of America, 1999.
(Ref. LB 2369 .G53 1999)

See the MLA Website for information on citing electronic sources (click the link to "MLA Style").

ALWAYS check the style manual!! DO NOT rely on other guides unless they are officially sanctioned by MLA (such as the MLA Website)!

But if you must have general help, see How to Cite Sources and Using MLA Style to Cite and Document Sources.

Book citation:

Reader, Avid, and Perma Bound. A Comprehensve History of
	Books and Bookmaking in Kalamazoo. Kalamazoo: City Press, 1933.

Journal Citation:

Hornet, Kay. "Kalamazoo's Inspirational College Mascots." Jivin' in the Hive 26.3
	(1999) : 21-35.

Chapter in a Book:

Seashore, Shelly. "Bathing Cap Use in Kalamazoo, Michigan." Sand, Soil,
	and Toil: Beaches in the American Midwest. Ed. Ivana Suntann and Misty C. Weed. Chicago: Flaming Dune Publications, 1998. 234-267.

 PLAGIARISM

Plagiarism: copying or stealing another’s work or ideas.

To avoid plagiarism, you must cite:

• spoken and written quotations
• ideas and opinions
• facts that are not general knowledge
• paraphrases of all of the above

See Plagiarism: What it Is and How to Recognize and Avoid It
(Produced by Writing Tutorial Services, Indiana University)

When in doubt, ask your instructor!