Virtual Library

1. Research: Use the resources of the Jefferson State libraries and/or Alabama Virtual library to

find a critical article on one of the class readings that interests you. Your article might cover

a theme or character, or it might provide historical background or another kind of insight.

Remember, though, that you’re focusing on the work, not the author. Do not choose a

biographical essay (an essay about the author’s life). Also stay away from Google and

Wikipedia; you’re looking for scholarly, peer-reviewed sources.

2. Summarize: Once you have read and have a thorough understanding of your chosen article,

write a 1 ½ to 2 ½ page summary of it. In this section of your paper, use formal

academic language (no contractions or use of “I”). At this point, you should ONLY be

condensing or paraphrasing information in the article, not responding to it or giving your

opinion. Your goal is to write a summary so thorough that anyone who reads your summary

wouldn’t have to read the article to understand what it was about.

Use a reasonable number of direct quotes (2-3 per paragraph), and remember to indicate

them using “ ”. Remember, though, you CAN borrow information without quoting if you

paraphrase or summarize. You SHOULD provide in-text citations for any and all

borrowed information. In the summary section, it would not be unheard of to have a

citation in every sentence. (Remember: cite paragraph numbers for an html document; cite

page numbers if working with a .pdf file or book.)

3. Respond: Without starting a new page, use the second 1 ½ to 2 ½ pages of your paper to

respond to the critic’s main points, argument, and/or evidence. This is your chance to agree