Some Database Characteristics

Each Database is selective

Subject Matter—disciplinary perspective, period, geographical region, and more;
Scope —types, number, and years of publications covered
Depth (of indexing) —citation, ciabstracts, full texts, which determines their search capabilities.

Strategy in Selecting a Database

First, run a relatively broad search in them to assess their relevance on a topic;
Next, try out a variety of keyword, subject, and author searches in a chosen database.
Last, use newly learned ideas and words in other databases.

About JSTOR and Project Muse

1. The collections include journals from all displines— literary studies, Latin American Studies, and others;

2. JStor are likely to include seminal works on a subject, which are highly original and influential, and central to the development or understanding of a subject.

3. Must check for up-to-date information from other sources when using JSTOR.

Click to browse some journals here:

Focus on a character?

What issue or problem does the character help illustrate or answer, and how?

The character "Ursula Iguaran" helps illustrate the treatment of female characters or raise questions about women in society in Marquez' novel, "One Hundred Years of Solitude".

Sample search:
marquez and (solitude or soledad) and (women or female or "Ursula Iguaran")

Note:

1. include "and" in between keywords;

2. "or" and ( ) to nest related/varied expressions;

3. " " around phrases.

Evaluation of Search Results:

In what types of journals and publications (besides literary studies) did you find relevant work? What does this suggest about research on your topic?

What sorts of audiences seem to be addressed in works on your topic? How can you tell? 

What aspects of the search results surprised you? Why? Did “peripheral materials” lead you anywhere? How?

Based on your search, how would you characterize the main approaches to your topic? What do you think are some of the central debates in the study of your topic? What is your evidence for thinking so?

Review of Recent Books

Reviews of recent books on a subject are likely to summarize the current state of research in an area;

A sample search in Project Muse and limited to Book Reviews :

"magic realism" and ("latin america*" or colombia*)

Note:

1. include "and" in between keywords;

2. "or" and ( ) to nest related/varied expressions;

3. America* searches for all forms of the word, America, American, etc.

Read a Couple of Articles Carefully and Identify:

• the "problem" addressed (the thesis of the article);

• the central debates on this problem;

• the major arguments by the author;

• the methods applied in making these arguments;

• the evidence (e.g., language, imagery, narrative forms, author's interviews, diaries, etc., or secondary sources);

• if the conclusions are based on speculations, are they convincing?

Throughout your reading:

• Compare and contrast methods by authors: key points of difference or convergence

• Note controversies and weaknesses; explain and clarify gaps

• How about the presentation, logic and clarity of the article?

• State your own positions; provide your own interpretations and critiques

Finding Full Texts

1. Click on the button to these three options:

• a. link to the full text of the article when available digitally;

• b. link to a Library Catalog search for the journal in print that contains your article.

• c. link to ILliad for requesting the article when the above two options are negative.

2. Search for a journal directly here:

• a.Tufts Library Catalog (including e-journals)
• b. Electronic journals list
• c. Use ILliad to request your article, if Tufts does not have your journal.