Joseph Conrad and Heart of Darkness:Literacy Criticism The following is meant to be used as support material related to a library instruction session conducted by a library instructor and an BHCC English Department course instructor.
Consider what you need in terms of information for this particular assignment
- Paper vs. electronic resources
- Primary, secondary or tertiary sources
- Books, magazines, journal, newspaper articles, world wide web sites or other materials available on the Internet.
Consider where you'll search
- Book catalog
- World Wide Web
- Online subscription services
Consider how you'll search
- Natural language searching
- Boolean search techniques
Finding Information on an Author and Using Literary Criticism Resources
Getting started . . .
A good place to begin your research on Joseph Conrad (or any writer) is to use the Bunker Hill Community College Library Online Catalog where you can search for books by and about Joseph Conrad.
The online catalog is the most efficient way to find a book in the BHCC library. Take some time to master the NOBLE WebCatalog so when you need to stop in and borrow a book your task will be easier. The Web catalog version http://catalog.noblenet.org/ is accessable from anywhere via the Internet using any World Wide Web browser .
There are six searchable fields. To start, use the Words search, unless you already know the author's name (Author), or the title of the book (Title) of a specific book. Before you enter your search, read the screen. There are always useful tips that will save you search time. To see an example of how to do a search in the catalog, you can go to the Web page entitled How to use the online catalog
Another place to find information on Joseph Conrad and Heart of Darkness is in the Reference Section of the library. Here, you will find both biographical and literary criticism materials.
Biographical Reference Sources
- Collins Biographical Dictionary of English Literature -- Provides short biographical information on English writers including Conrad.
- British Writers -- Multi-volume series that provides biographical and bibliographical information on English authors. The entry on Joseph Conrad is found in Volume VI.
- Contemporary Authors -- Print speciality series that compiles biographical and brief bibliographical information on authors, poets, playwrights and writers of other genres. (Read the Preface in Contemporary Authors to find out more details of criteria for selection of the writers and information.) Entries on Joseph Conrad may be found in Volume 104 and Volume 131.
- InfoTrac Web -- From ON Campus you can access an electronic version of Contemporary Authors through InfoTrac Web.
- InfoTrac Web -- You can also access InfoTrac Web using this link from OFF Campus. (Enter 14-digit BHCC Library barcode number.)
Literary Criticism found in the Reference Section of the library
Masterplots: 1801 Plot Stories and Critical Evalutations of the World's Finest Literature -- Provides brief summaries, and short analyses of selected works by each author. An entry on Heart of Darkness may be found in Volume 5.
Web Sites
- Internet Public Library: Online Literary Criticism Collection--Sites about Heart of Darkness -- Links to Web sites on Heart of Darkness.
- Resources for the Study of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness -- From a Web site at Georgetown University that contains links to electronic versions of Heart of Darkness and includes a link to information on Apocalypse Now from the Internet Movie Database.
- -- EBSCOhost from On Campus
- -- EBSCOhost from Off Campus (Requires 14 digit BHCC library barcode number) -- Similar to InfoTrac Web EBSCOhost is an electronic subscription service that inlcudes general and field-specific databases. Use EBSCOhost to find articles on Joseph Conrad and his work. Suggested database to use: Academic Search Elite -- Using this database try a keyword search on Joseph Conrad and Heart of Darkness and take a look at what resulting citations, abstracts, and full-text articles you find.
- Heart of Darkness -- An electronic version of Heart of Darkness that includes theme and structure and analysis of the major characters in the novel.
- Apocalypse Now (1979) -- Provides a summary and analysis of the film.
Research on the Internet, Citations, and Evaluating Internet Sources
What do you remember in terms of citing information using the MLA format?
If you need a quick refresher, use the NoodleBib site -- Use the drop down menu to practice creating MLA format bibliographic citations.
What do you remember in terms of evaluating WWW sites?
Another useful site: Internet Research. -- From the Writing Lab at Purdue University. Use its search tools and general reference materials link to help you get started with searching the Web.
Keep In Mind when using print or electronic resources-- Consider the tool you're using. Where did it come from, who is offering the information and for what purposes, how does the search tool work, and other basic information evaluation questions that will serve you and your task at hand.
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BHCC Library Home Page |BHCC Home Page | Chelsea Campus LinksWeb Site questions or comments? Send E-mail to bhc@noblenet.org Last reviewed June 25, 2001 Last updated June 25, 2001