Creator: U of Michigan; Drexel U | visit site
Grade Range: 8 - 11
One of the most valuable (though visually plain) sections of the Internet Public Library, this site offers students reliable sources for literary criticism on the authors most studied in high school. For most students, writing their first research paper is a daunting task and a great temptation to plagiarize from a vast Internet. Walking your students through the maze of biographical and literary criticism explained on this site can show them how to incorporate their own thoughts about a work with support from the academic world. They can search via the author’s last name, by the title of the work, or by period in literary history. Students can also access the Online Literary Criticism Guide for assistance within the site or the Literary Criticism Pathfinder, a nice guide to directing students how to find resources within their own libraries.
In the Classroom
You might choose an author and, using an interactive whiteboard or projector, have students find sources for that author and discuss their own ideas of his work in contrast to what others have said. Together, write a brief essay as an example. As a bonus, you get to show them how to cite the source correctly!
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