The links below are to good sources of background information. That is, when you need to look up a quick biography on Shakespeare, a summary of the criticism of a play, or the history of a word, they're great sources to consult.

Books are important for Shakespeare scholars. Be sure to consult our catalog to find books on your theme. There are other suggestions for finding books and videos on the Find books & video tab.

In class we'll focus on one database for articles, but there are several others on the Find scholarly articles tab you should consult.

Search Tips for MLA:

• Click "Search"
• Type the name Shakespeare into the search box and select "SA Primary Subject Author" from the drop-down menu.
• Type the name of the play you're researching into the next book and select "SK Primary Subject Work" from the drop-down menu.
• Type the theme or topic into the keyword box

Any of the these tools listed below can help you organize and cite your references. The Overview at the top of the list explains the strengths and weaknesses for each.

• Overview of Citation Software
• EndNote
• Zotero
• Mendeley

LibKey is a set of tools that help you get faster access to electronic content.

If I'm not available to answer your question, please feel free to consult with one of my colleagues:

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