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Writing 120: Decoding Disney: Getting Started

A starter pack for finding sources for your assignments!

How to use this guide

When conducting a literature search for class, use keywords to search the library databases for scholarly journal articles and using the library catalog to search for Books & Media related to Disney and your topic.

Each tab has tips and tricks for searching for articles and for books, as well as how to build a good search.


Need help?

Chat with Ask A Librarian (the real librarians, not chatbots) or contact Haley, your course librarian to set up a one-on-one research consultation.

Your Librarian

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Haley Walton
she/her/hers
Contact:
Perkins Library
haley.walton@duke.edu
919-660-5938

Building a search

library.duke.edu is your gateway to scholarly journal articles as well as popular magazines and newspapers that cover Disney media!

Image result for little mermaid

How do I build a search?

Use keywords = single words or short phrases related to your topic. To brainstorm keywords, think your research topic as a question and then break it down into related concepts. Example:

Question: Does Does Mulan effectively challenge the traditional “Disney princess” portrayal of a female protagonist and how does that affect girls' perception of a female hero?

Keywords: female heroes, heroines women heroes in media, gender roles, Disney Mulan 1998, “Disney princess,” heroines Disney Mulan, femininity, perception of heroines, perception of female heroes, identifying with Disney princesses

 

These are just starting keywords. Reading literature about your topic will expand your vocabulary!

Tips:

  • Keep a list of keywords you've searched for.
  • Try the same keywords in different places (library website, Proquest database, Google Scholar) -- you may find different things!

Finding books in the library

On the library website, clicking on a blue location marker icon will show you a map of where the item is located. Remember to save the call number so you can find it on the shelf.

A green request button Check if this can be requested for delivery if it's located in the Library Service Center or one of the professional school libraries (Ford, Law, Medical Center, Divinity). 

The 'View Online' button means an e-book version of this item is available for viewing in your web browser (if you're off campus, you will need to authenticate with your NetID/password).

 

The following links provide additional information on finding material in the Libraries: