Critical Approaches to Literature (ENG 212)

Check out this collection of best web resources for literature and learn how to evaluate a website.

Genres & Topics

American & English Literature

Author-Specific Sites

English Literature

Women's Literature

American Literature

While collecting and reviewing sources, how is it determined what is okay to use in academic papers? 

Here are 4 considerations when assessing whether or not a source is right for use in assignments.

• Author: 
  • Who wrote it and what are their credentials? What larger organization are they affiliated with? If an author is search in Google, what is found? Is this article in their area of expertise? Can the author or organization be contacted?
• Bias:
  • Can the angle/slant/bias in the article or on an affiliated web site be identified? What is the purpose of the study or content—to prove something to a particular group? Can the claims be corroborated with at least two other sources?
• Content: 
  • Is the source accurate? Are there basic mistakes in grammar, dead links, or spelling? When was it published, posted, or last updated? Does it contain claims that contradict things known to be true or even other claims within the article itself?
• Support: 
  • Does the content have citations or sources? Can the source(s) be verified? Do the sources' arguments support the claims of the topic being researched?

How To Refine Google Searches

Read Google's Tips on how to refine searches in their search engine.

Remember!: The first result on Google is NOT always the correct answer or best result. ALWAYS verify the result by using the evaluation Guidelines below.