MegaSearch: The Broadest Search
These directions are for finding information about an author and/or their literary work.
1. Open MegaSearch
2. Press Search (with nothing in the search box).
3. Scroll down to Disciplines (left side). Type in Literature.
4. Check the box for Languages & Literatures
5. Click Advanced search.
6. Enter the title of your work in quotes. Then put the author's last name.
- "two kinds" tan
7. Optional: In the second box, put the type of article you want (and Search).
- criticism
- biography
- interview
8. Review your results
- Read the Title. If it seems relevant . . .
- Click the Quick Look button, and read the Abstract
- If that looks relevant, open the full text. Or you can just email a link to yourself + a citation. (See below)
9. Scan the full text for a key word or phrase.
This tells you what parts of the text are most relevant.
- Open the full text (from the Access Options button).
- Ctrl+F Hold down the Ctrl key, then the F key.
- A box pops up. Enter a word or phrase. Search.
- Any instances of your search term(s) will be highlighted. Click the arrow to jump to the next one.
10. Email a full text link to yourself, plus an MLA citation.
- From the original MegaSearch record, click the "envelope" icon (top).
- Enter your email address
- From Choose a Citation Format, select MLA (Modern Languages Association)
- Optional: leave yourself a note: "why did you select this article?"
- Send.
- You will get a citation (it will look small), followed by a LINK to the full text.