ENGL 150 - Nelson
Where to find material at FLITE:
Finding Journal Articles
To find journal articles on a particular topic, use one or more of the databases available on the FLITE web site. These databases cumulatively provide indexing to thousands of journal titles. A few of the databases provide full-text (content of the articles is found directly within the database), but many provide mainly abstracts (summaries) or citations (description of where the article originally appeared in print).
For your upcoming Presidential Election Essays, the following databases contain extensive election coverage:
- 2008 Presidential Election Guide/World News Digest/Facts On File: Select World News Digest to explore a special election guide covering major issues.
- Access World News:
Select Other NewsBank Products from the upper right-hand corner, and then select Special Reports to see the U.S. Presidential Campaign 2008 informationFor your upcoming Into the Wild assignments, the following databases will be most helpful:
Online Resources for Into the Wild
Thanks to George Mason University who gathered many of the resources below for its Into the Wild Text and Commentary webpage.
- Death of an innocent: How Christopher McCandless lost his way in the wilds" by Jon Krakauer, (Outside, January 1993)
This is the original article that is the foundation for the book and the movie Into the Wild. - I now walk into the wild by Chip Brown, (New Yorker, February 8, 1993)
- Chris McCandless from an Alaska park ranger's perspective by Peter Christian. (Note: can you verify who Peter Christian is?)
- Denali National Park website
Use the search engine on the website to look for letters to the editors of Outside magazine (from March 1993 and April 1993) in response to Krakauer's article.
Database Resources for Into the Wild
Newspaper Articles
From the Anchorage Daily NewsUse Access World News: to retrieve newspapers articles - limit to the newspaper above:
- "Theories differ on the cause of McCandless' death" by George Bryson; October 8, 2007
- "Alaska wilderness devours the deluded, ignorant and ill" by Craig Medred; August 21, 2005
- "Never underestimate flower power" by Alan Boraas; April 3, 2002
- "McCandless: hero or dumb jerk?" by Judith Kleinfeld; July 2, 2001
Use the New York Times Historical Newspapers database:
- "Hiker identified by self-portrait"; September 20, 1992
Literary Research and Criticism on Krakauer, Nonfiction, and Wilderness Hermits
Use databases and "Find--Journals" to help find these resources, especially Literature Resources from Gale. (Many other resources will be available in Literature Resources from Gale as well.)
- "The wild, wild north: Nature writing, nationalist ecologies, and Alaska" by Susan Krollin (American Literary History 12, Spring-Summer 2000, pp. 41-78)
- "Mining a rough terrain: Weighing the implications of nonfiction" by Daniel Lehman (Narrative 9:3, Oct 2001, pp. 334-42)
- "Melodramas of beset manhood: How theories of American fiction exclude women authors" by Nina Baym (American Quarterly 33, pp.)
- "Say it ain't so, Huck: Second thoughts on Mark Twain's 'Masterpiece'" by Jane Smiley (Harper's, January, 1996)
- "Critics in the wilderness: Literary theory and the spiritual roots in the American wilderness tradition" by David R. Williams (Weber Studies 11:3, Fall 1994, pp. 120-129)
- "Taking the SUV to a place it's never been before: SUV ads and the consumption of nature" by Melissa Aronczyk (Invisible Culture 9, Fall 2005)
- "Fall of the wild: Our appetite for oil threatens to devour Alaska's North Slope" by Joel Bourne (National Geographic, May 2006)
Finding Books at FLITE
For books and documents in the circulating collection (Main Stacks), use the Library Catalog. Search either using keyword or subject.
Some related Books for Essay 5 (Available on the Reserve Shelf for a 4-hour reserve)
- Coming into the Country by John McPhee
- A Pelican in the Wilderness: Hermits, Solitaries, and Recluses by Isabel Colegate (book on order)
- The Lonely Other: a Woman Watching America by Diana Hume George (book on order)
- Hermits: the Insights of Solitude by Peter France
An engaging look at the state of Alaska, written in the form of a travel narrative describing life as seen by bush pilots, prospectors, settlers, businessmen, and politicians
Colegate's study of solitude and the psychology behind it, showing how, (as in the case of McCandless), such behavior can be self-destructing
A woman's perspective on solitude, rootlessness, and a quest for "mindful living"
A representative history of some of the more articulate hermits and solitaries who left behind writings and insights to aid others in self-discovery
Book Locations:
- Main Stacks, Call Numbers A-H - Lower Level
- Main Stacks, Call Number J-Z - Third Floor
- Reference - First Floor
- Government Documents - Second Floor
Off-Campus Access
FLITE's subscription databases are available to all current Ferris students, faculty, and staff. Login and additional information can be found at Off Campus Database Access.
Interlibrary Loan
Interlibrary loan requests for materials FLITE does not have access to can be electronically submitted through the Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Request form.
If you experience problems logging on, please call (231) 591-2669 or (800) 4-FERRIS (ext. 2669), or stop by the Check Out Desk at the Library.
Citing Sources
Plagiarism
Plagiarism tutorials and self-help guides, plus a link to step-by-step citation assistance.
Citation Style Guide: MLA (PDF)
An online version of FLITE's MLA Quick Reference handout which requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.
MLA Format
More examples of how cite different types of sources using the MLA format.
Copies of the full-length MLA Handbook (MLA handbook for writers of research papers) can be found in the Ready Reference section on Floor 1 of the library near the Oval Information Desk.
Citations - a FLITE guide
A guide to understanding citations, and a link to different online citation management tools that can help you input your sources and create your bibliographies.
General Online Information - Surf smart!!
Internet Evaluation
Are all websites created equal?
Internet Examples
Use one of these guides to help evaluate websites.
Web Page Evaluation Checklist from University of California at Berkeley
Check out urban legends, hoaxes, and misinformation.
Snopes.com
Contact: Kristen Motz / Email / Phone: 231-591-3625 / Office: FLITE 140H
Don't forget, you are welcome to come to the Oval Information Desk and ask for help any time. You can also call us 231-591-3602 or chat with us.
Last update: October 7, 2008