ENGL 1020: English Composition II Hard-Boiled Detective  Fiction (Paul)

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This guide lists sources from AUM's Library which you can use to do the research on authors and their literary works. If you have questions, please:

  • go to the Reference Desk on the Library's second floor
  • call the Reference Desk at 334-244-3649 when we are open
  • Ask A Librarian by e-mail

 

Reference Sources

Reference books and staff at the Reference Desk can help you:

  • explore potential topics that interest you
  • find background information on your chosen topic
  • locate brief factual information like statistics, dates, names, and places quickly
  • create a list of words that describe your topic (You'll need these when you search for books and articles on your topic.)
  • determine the best sources for finding information on your topic

Reference books, which are located on the second floor, must be used in the Library. Ask at the Reference Desk if you need assistance with locating books in this area and with photocopying.

The reference books listed here provide information on the authors of hard-boiled detective fiction and their work in print and on the silver screen. Begin your research here to get a basic understanding of these topics before you search for books and articles.

Literary Biography & Criticism

  • 100 Masters of Mystery and Detective Fiction
    Reference: PN 3448 .D4 A16 2001
    online
  • Reference Guide to Mystery and Detective Fiction
    online
  • American Mystery and Detective Novels: A Reference Guide
    Reference: PS 374 .D4 L34 1999
  • Women Authors of Detective Series: Twenty-One American and British Writers, 1900-2000
    Reference: PS 374 .D4 R49 2001
  • The Hard-Boiled Explicator: A Guide to the Study of Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, and Ross Macdonald
    Reference: PS 374 .D4 S57 2002
  • A Dashiell Hammett Companion
    Reference: PS 3515 .A4347 Z459 2000
    online
  • Reader's Guide to Raymond Chandler
    Reference: PS 3505. H3224 Z885 2001
  • Dictionary of Literary Biography
    Reference: PN 41 .D53
  • Contemporary Literary Criticism (CLC)
    Reference: PN 771 .C59
  • Literature Resource Center

Film

  • Great Detective Pictures
    Reference: PN 1995.9 .D4 P37 1990
  • Short Guide to Writing About Film
    Reference: PN 1995 .C66 1994


Books

Books shelved on the third through sixth floors can be checked out. You'll need to use the AUM Library Catalog to find books on specific authors like Dashiell Hammett or Raymond Chandler and their works. eBooks from NetLibrary are also included in the online catalog.

Books by an Author

At the Simple Search screen:

  • type in the author's last name then first name, for example Grafton Sue
  • select author in the Search by box
  • click on the Search button

Books About an Author

At the Simple Search screen:

  • type in the author's last name then first name, for example Hammett Dashiell
  • select subject in the Search by box
  • click on the Search button

Books About Hard-Boiled Detective Fiction

At the Builder Search screen:

  • type in hard-boiled in the 1st box and select keyword anywhere in the Search by box
    AND
  • type in detective in the 2nd box and select keyword anywhere in the Search by box
  • click on the Search button

Locating Books in the Library


Journal Articles

In addition to books, you'll need to find journal articles on your topic. To find articles, use the Library's online databases which are accessible off campus.

The entire text of many articles is included in the Library's databases. If an article is not in the database you are searching, you may be able to find it in another database by typing the journal title into:

If an article is not full text in a database, check the AUM Library Catalog to find out if the article is in the Library's Periodicals Collection on the second floor. Like books, the journals are arranged by call number. Ask at the Reference Desk if you need assistance.

Literature Databases

General Databases

 

Citing Your Sources

Why do sources have to be cited?

  • to give credit to the original author
  • to avoid plagiarism
  • to help others find and verify information

You can read more about plagiarism in CQ Researcher (September 19, 2003).

How do I cite sources?

For this course, you'll use the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. Copies of the MLA Handbook are available at the Reference Desk on the second floor. You can also consult Web sites providing information on MLA citation format.

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