Research Tips and Resources

To eliminate a deluge of lame-o pop-up sites when typing in a search on Google...

When going to Google, click on the tiny link near the search bar which says, "Advanced Search."  In the bottom bar, you should see "Search within a site or domain."  Try putting in :edu or :org.  That will only bring up sites with .edu (only bringing up sites affliated with educational organizations) or .org (only bringing up not-for-profit sites), and will eliminate the more illegitmate .com sites.

Also, you can access the King County Library system by going here (you'll need your library card):
http://www.kcls.org/databases/

Then click on the "Arts and Literature" link.  That will provide you with links both to poetry commentaries, and to a Literature Resource Center where you can look up author biographies and literary commentaries, etc.

Remember: start with a research QUESTION.  You won't articulate your thesis until after you've assembled all your research.