Jstor Search Tips

Go to Populi, click on Library at the top of the page. Click on Links. Click on Jstor. If you're not logged in you'll get limited results. You will know that you're logged in if you see at the top of your search results "Access provided by Delaware College of Art and Design." You will also see your DCAD email address on the right. 

It's tricky to get your search terms right. You might need to try multiple searches. Be patient. If you get too many results, you need to narrow your search. If you get too few, that's also a problem. Use the filters on the left-hand sidebar to "craft" your search. 

Be like a detective. You can tell a lot about a source from close inspection. You do not have to read every article start to finish. 

When you find a useful quotation, write it down immediately. Don't forget to note the details of the source. It's really easy to forget the page number. 

Final Paper: Required Draft and Conference Next Wednesday, May 1

We will not hold formal class next Wednesday, May 1. Instead, each student will meet with me for a 15-minute conference. You will need to upload your draft before we meet. 

This assignment counts for 20 points total:

5 points for uploading your draft and attending your conference

15 points for your final essay

Questions: csmith@dcad.edu

Secondary Sources: How can you tell if they're legit?

GREEN LIGHT 

I recommend removing all doubt. Use published books (see the library catalog) and journal articles (JStor). These sources are edited, which gives them a higher degree of accuracy. They also use secondary sources themselves. If a source has a bibliography or Works Cited information, it's almost certainly legit. 

YELLOW LIGHT

Magazines and newspapers, whether in print or online, might be acceptable. For instance, an article published in "The New York Times" or in "Hyperallergic" might be acceptable. If the topic you're writing and researching about is happening right now, it won't be represented in the scholarly sources. It's too new and it takes a while (months, sometimes years) for academic writing to get published.  

RED LIGHT

An essay posted on an individual's private blog is usually not edited. Most of your results from a Google search will yield illegitimate sources. Sometimes the writing and research can be quite good. However, they simply can't be trusted. 

End of Semester Schedule

We have five class sessions left. All of our focus will be on the final assignment: reflection (what do you think of your issue), research (finding at least three scholarly sources), writing, revising, and editing your 5-page essay. 

Because students are legitimately pressed for time at the end of the semester, I've decided to devote considerable class time to working on this assignment.  

Monday, April 22: Introduction to MLA-formatting & work-time.

Wednesday, April 24: Work-time (attendance mandatory).

Monday, April 29: Work-time (attendance mandatory).

Wednesday, May 1: One-on-one conferences. Sign-up for your slot. Finished draft mandatory. No regular class meeting on this day. 

Monday, May 6: Paper due 30 minutes before class starts. Upload to Populi. Brief presentations by each student (five minutes, Powerpoint optional). 

Questions: csmith@dcad.edu

MLA Style: Real-World Examples

 

Here are some award-winning student essays that use MLA style impeccably. Check out how they work. Emulate.  

MLA Boot Camp

 

Purdue University, in my home state of Indiana, has compiled a website that is the undisputed leader in online writing advice, the OWL. Here is the link to their MLA Formatting Guide.

Your final paper will incorporate at least three legitimate sources, and these sources will be listed in the proper MLA format on a separate page at the end of your essay. 

Spend some time on the OWL. Be patient. Let me know if you have questions: csmith@dcad.edu.

Class on April 15

Hello, Writing for the Arts Students,

First Thing: I apologize for not allowing enough time for a genuine conversation/debate on the topic of cultural appropriation last Wednesday. We are going to spend the first part of class on this. What do you think about the issue? Is it important to you? Why or why not? 

Second Thing: I've uploaded an example of the Delaware Contemporary Project on your respective Populi page. The file is titled "CSmith_TDC". Please use the same file-naming convention for your document. The folder is titled "TDC Draft."

On Monday, each student will upload their file and give a brief presentation/critique. If your literary piece is more than 500 words, that's not a problem. A thousand words is probably getting into TL:DR territory. My text was 569 words and I had to cut it down considerably. 

The 9:30 section should upload no later than 9:00 am on Monday, April 15. Students in the second section that begins at 11:00 should upload no later than 10:30 that morning. 

Let me know if you have questions: csmith@dcad.edu