Graphic Fiction & Non-Fiction

For research into graphic novels, memoirs, history, science, comics & more

Research Requires Strategy

Tips to Strategize Keywords

  • Keep it simple. Use only key words, rather than complicated phrases.
    • Ex: superheroes AND "world war II" instead of "how superheroes have changed since world war II"
  • Identify synonyms, related terms, and broader or narrower terms. 
    • Ex: (comics OR "graphic novels")
  • Look for specialized vocabulary of the field - as well as formal vocabulary.
  • Connect key words with AND to narrow and focus a search. 
    • "graphic novels" AND history
  • Use OR to search for synonyms or alternative words.
    • (LGBTQ OR lesbian OR gay OR bisexual OR transgender OR queer OR homosexual)
  • Put phrases in quotation marks.
    • Ex: "graphic novels"
  • Use truncation to capture forms of a root term. 
    • Ex: represent* = represent, representation
  • Use NOT to exclude something 
    • Ex: NOT reviews

Keep a list of Subject Terms and try searching with them instead of or along with keywords.

Example:

  • Graphic Novels
  • Graphic novels -- History and criticism
  • Superman (Fictitious character)
  • Superheroes

Tips to Strategize Sources

Conversations and analysis take place in place in different communities and for different audiences. 

Strategize where to look for what. 

Pages of this guide are organized to help. 
  • Use Reference to find reliable background information in Subject Encyclopedias. Discover: context, history, issues, concepts, terminology, starting analysis, leads to key resources.
  • Use News and Multimedia pages to find reliable news, analysis and opinion on current issues from a range of perspectives. Also find reviews of cultural productions, such as books, performances, films, etc.
  • Use the Literary Criticism Database, Gale Literature, to find a collection of analyses of works, authors, themes, and genres. Some of the material is for students, some for the general public, and some scholarly. It is ALL helpful.
  • Find the Scholarly Conversation in scholarly (peer-reviewed) journals and scholarly books. 

Research is Strategic Exploration

Research is Exploration

We start with ideas and interests

  • Take some time to read and think and let your ideas develop into open-ended questions and a thoughtful focus.

Effective research takes strategy. 

  • Strategize keywords that capture the questions or topics you want to research. Look for and explore relevant subject terms.
  • Strategize where to search for different kinds of information.