Search Advice English Language and Literature: Other resources

You can find "all" English books published between 1473 and 1700 with Early English Books Online (EEBO). More information on EEBO is available in their LibGuide.

In addition to using search terms in scholarly databases (a search box) you can follow references from one publication to another (a snowball). 

Works Cited

• Check the works cited in publications you have already found. But be aware:
  • You will only find older publications
  • You will mostly find publications that fit the author's argumentation.

Cited By

• Check the cited-by references in databases like Google Scholar. You will:
  • Find more recent publications
  • Find publications that discuss (refer to, built on, comment on, refute ) the publication you have already found.

These LibGuides primarily focus on how to search and handle scholarly information. For all information on day-to-day library services please visit the our pages with practical information and library locations.

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The MLA International Bibliography has videos that explain the filters and other search options. See the two examples below

Several guides have tried to map the English language and literature on the Internet. Due to the Internet's mutability, these guides have since become obsolete. You will have to search for information on the Internet yourself and critically evaluate the websites you find!

See the related LibGuide 'Evaluating Sources' below for further advice.

If you also want to use information from websites other than regular scholarly articles and books you should be extra careful and think about the role you give that information in your argument or analysis.

Ask yourself the following questions when reading webpages and be extra careful if the answer is negative most of the times.

1. Is the name of the author/maker available (and do you know more about the author or organisation)?
2. Can you find an e-mail address of the author/maker?
3. Is the webpage free of (lots of) advertisements?
4. Is the use of language careful, not childish, correct?
5. Is it clear how the information on the page came about?
6. Are sources mentioned (so no phrases like "research shows that") without any quotation of sources?
7. Are claims well-founded (so no phrases like "as is common knowledge")?
8. Is it a balanced piece or does all information point in the same direction?
9. Is the author open about matters still unknown or uncertain?
10. Can you find when the page was written or updated?
11. Is the page unbiased or in any case without strongly political or commercial aims?