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ENGL 247: Detective Fiction

Start Your Research at the Library!

For your group presentation, you'll need to identify and locate one scholarly, secondary source that demonstrates a critical approach to your literary text or the author, or addresses a specific theme or issue raised in the text. This guide will introduce you to several broad strategies and resources for research.

Getting Started with Subject Encyclopedias

Subject encyclopedias, handbooks and overviews are scholarly, tertiary works written by experts on a variety of topics. The articles are typically longer and more detailed than those found in general encyclopedias. These resources can help you with:

  • Understanding the scope of a topic
  • Suggesting ideas for narrowing a topic
  • Identifying key concepts, terms, dates and names
  • Listing subject areas related to a topic
  • Recommending sources for further exploration

In Collins Library, the print reference collection is located on the first floor, and most of the online reference collection is available in one of the database collections listed below. Use Primo to identify subject encyclopedias in either format; or ask a librarian for recommendations.

Featured Tertiary Sources