Resource Guide to Confederacy of Dunces

Oliver Wendell Holmes Library
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OWHL RESOURCE GUIDE for English 200
A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole

Teacher: Mr. Kalkstein Librarian: Mr. Blake Spring, '06		Research is a process. These are the steps. Getting organized Gathering information Using the information Taking time to reflect

.	Go into your research with a driving question, not just a topic, but don’t be surprised if your question shifts a bit to accommodate the research. Expect rushes of pleasure at finding what you need, as well as periods of frustration. Sustaining energy and commitment over the course of this project is part of the process.	Plan your time wisely to do your best wor k and avoid plagiarism.
	Understand the assignment. Mr. Kalkstein's Guidelines and Expectations

1. Getting Organized

First Choose a broad topic. this topic bank may help you get started.
The Red Scare Red Scare (1918-1921) is an Image Database created by Leo Robert Klein Wikipedia - Red Scare House Un-American Committee (HUAC)	Dame Fortuna Lady Luck and Enron
Bourbon Street Wikipedia - Bourbon Street Moment by moment "Bourbo Cam"	Big Chief tablets Wikipedia - Big Chief Tablets
the pyloric valve Stedman's Medical Dictionary - pylorous Answers.com	The Prytania Theatre The theatre today Film sites Sundance Institute Screen Actors Guild
Magazine Street Magazine street today Magazine street today again	hot dog vendors Hot dog vendors Openair markets directory Ice Cream vendors
Life magazine The Official Life magazine site Wikipedia - Life Magazine	New Orleans police The Official NOPD site
French Quarter costumes Masks and Costumes for Carnival Mardi Gras Costumes	Hroswitha The nun-poetess Biography

2. Gathering Information

The mininum number of sources is FIVE. Two must be books. Try to find a newspaper or magazine, also. Do not rely too heavily on online sources, though it is good to use the library's databases.:

Circulating Books
Journal articles
Free Internet Resources

TIP: Don’t forget to capture the information you will need for your bibliography the first time you use each source. Click here for info on how to make source cards.

TO FIND CIRCULATING BOOKS:

Try these Selected Keywords

Try these Subject Headings

McCarthyism

Anti-communist movements -- United States
New Orleans (La.) -- History.
Carnival
Don Quixote

TIP: Some of these books are available through our library consortium. Make sure to make your request early, as they may take a few days to arrive.

Use this search box to search the OWHL Catalog.

TO FIND JOURNAL ARTICLES AND OTHER RESOURCES USING ELECTRONIC DATABASES
If you need this type of information:	Try these sources:	TIP: There is no one perfect electronic database. The best database for you depends on your particular information need. This discussion of Choosing the Right Electronic Resources can save you time by helping you to match your information need with one or more source types.
Images of Art and Architecture	ARTStor
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION	BIOGRAPHY RESOURCE CENTER	Literature Online
LITERARY CRITICISM	CONTEMPORARY LITERARY CRITICISM SELECT	Literature Online
GENERAL PERIODICALS	GENERAL REFERENCE CENTER GOLD	MASTERFILE PREMIER	e-LIBRARY
OVERVIEWS / COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION	Literature Online	AMERICAN HUMANITIES INDEX	ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA
SCHOLARLY JOURNALS	ACADEMIC ASAP	EXPANDED ACADEMIC PLUS	PROJECT MUSE	JSTOR
NEWS	NEW YORK TIMES ARCHIVE	NEW YORK TIMES CURRENT	NEWSPAPER SOURCE	Historical Newspapers
NEWS/OPINION	CQ RESEARCHER	OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS
ELECTRONIC BOOKS	NET LIBRARY	GOOGLE BOOK SEARCH
COMPLETE A TO Z LIST of OWHL Databases

Additional SOURCES ON THE FREE WEB

Librarian's Index to the Internet	This directory provides an authoritative starting place for many subjects on the web.
Gale's Literary Index	An index to all of the literary sources that Gale publishes.

3. Using the Information

Now that you’ve found your resource material, follow these steps to get the most out it.

Products
Avoid plagiarism! Plagiarism /Copyright at PA
To cite Electronic sources	To cite Print Sources	As you work, remember to create a works cited page using the MLA citation style. TIP: You might find it helpful to use REFWORKS to generate your bibliography.
1.	Make source cards.
2.	Locate information within the source. Take notes.
3.	Write a thesis statement or statement of purpose.
4.	Write Full Sentence Outline: (3 Pages). Contains your Thesis and the questions that you will answer to prove your thesis.
5.	Finalize annotated bibliography
6.	Write outline
7.	Write draft of paper Example of an excellent paper.

4. Take time to reflect.

Are you satisfied with your efforts and outcome? If not, be sure to review this process thoroughly before your next assignment. Make an appointment with an Instructional Librarian as soon as you receive your assignment to make sure that you get off on the right track next time.