smg10e_ch10

To build on your support, consider doing outside research.

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Many analyses of short stories rely on a close reading of the text alone; the writer’s analysis is the only tool brought to bear on the work. Some approaches to analysis, however, also consider biographical information on the author, his or her other works, or various critical responses to the short story in question. If your instructor has asked you to include such information, or if you are curious about some aspect of the text that you do not understand—or that you suspect your readers will not understand—you might want to conduct some research and include your findings in your essay. Here are a few suggestions for getting started:

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Do a Google search, using keywords relevant to your analysis. For example, if you want more information about the context of “The Use of Force,” you could try keywords such as diphtheria epidemic.
To see what others have said about an author’s work, conduct a search using a specialized periodical database, such as the MLA International Bibliography, which specializes in academic writing about languages and literature. You should have access to periodical databases through your school’s library. If you are not sure how to use them, see Chapter 24, pages 674–75, 678–79. Ask a reference librarian for help if you encounter problems.

As you work, bookmark or keep a record of promising sites. If you download or copy information you could use in your essay, remember to record source information.