2023 ENG 201 Introduction to Research

ENG 201: Introduction to Research

By Molly Collins

​Example of a Historical/Informational Source

If we want to understand the contributions of Rowlandson as a woman author, particularly one documenting themes like maternal identity, we need more context on the role of women in Puritan society. A book called The Intellectual Culture of Puritan Women could give us information to better characterize the importance of Rowlandson and her work.

​

Example of Literary Criticism: Articles written by professionals that assess the meaning and value of a literary text or an author’s body of work 

An article called “Moving Targets: the Travel Text in 'A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson'”  points out that readers are missing a significant part of Rowlandson’s contribution by just reading it from a religious perspective. The author wants people to see it as a travel narrative, which would further characterize Rowlandson’s contributions as a woman author during this time period.

​Author Biographies (much like those in our textbook) can provide necessary background literary contributions, particularly style.

​

​​

​

What types of sources are you looking for?

Depends! Before you start looking, study the prompt and begin your analysis to determine what type of information is necessary.

​For example:

• ​​To support our analysis of how Jonathan Edwards used scripture and clever word choice in his sermon to emphasize "running out of time" as a means to persuade his audience, we referenced a source on "Death in Early America" to determine how puritan attitudes toward death aligned with the logic in the sermon and would contribute to capitalizing on this sense of fear. This would be a historical/informational source.

• There are other options. We could hone in on our analysis of authors of the time as idealists and committed to their rhetoric and power. An interesting article found in the Gale Literature database, a literary criticism, discusses how the other writings of Edwards help us understand that his sermon has solidified his identity in a way that isn't represented of his scope of though regarding religious belief and practice, especially his positive characterizations of Eve. *Though we didn't read his other works, we could use information from this article to reflect on his repetition of "wicked men" when addressing his congregation.

​

Yes, but what kind of source should I look for...

Some places to start:

• Wikipedia Reference pages. For example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_American_Crisis

• TCTC 200-level ENG course Research Guide (eBooks and articles): https://library.tctc.edu/c.php?g=552623&p=4471836

• National Parks Service Sites (Dedicated to Specific Authors)

• Brittanica

• American History database: https://library.tctc.edu/az.php

​

Where do I look?

Compare and contrast the ways in which Paine, Wheatley, Franklin, and Edwards represent the gradual shift from religious worldviews to Enlightenment Thinking.

*You must compare/contrast a minimum of two authors, in any combination.

*If you need to define Enlightenment ideals as a part of your analysis/set up, use the information from our textbook.

​

Monday's Prompt