Here are some basic pointers on doing research in literary studies. This page is by no means exhaustive, but is rather meant to get the research process going. A great place to start your research is the UF Library's subject guide to English Literature: http://web.uflib.ufl.edu/cm/english/. It has links to many of the databases below.

If you are off-campus and would like to access the UF databases below, I suggest you download the VPN client (http://net-services.ufl.edu/~ns/provided_services/vpn/index.html). This program makes all UF websites think that your computer is on-campus. It's very easy to use and install -- all you need is gatorlink username and password to login. If you do not use the VPN client, then you will need to login through the library's proxy server (http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/ufproxy.html) in order to access any of the databases below.

UF Databases:
These databases are accessible through the "Databases & e-Resources" page linked to the main UF libraries homepage. When you get to the Databases & e-Resources page, simply enter the name of the database you wish to search. For a subject list of all the databases UF subscribes to, click on the "Specific Subjects" link on the Databases & e-Resources page. I recommend using the "Advanced Search" option in all database because that allows you to put in more than one search term. The trick with all databases is, of course, to play around with different search terms until you understand how that particular database works. Remember always keep track of what search terms you have used and what results they yielded. I usually put the search terms in the subject of the email when I email myself the search results.

• MLA Bibliography -- This database indexes the majority of academic journals and books in the field of literary studies. I recommend using the first "Connect Now" link because it uses the InfoTrac interface, which is better for our purposes than the Gale Group interface. To search for articles on the Victorian period, use the following as a subject term: English literature 1800-1899.
  
  
• Expanded Academic -- This database indexes academic journals and books, but is not as exhaustive as the MLA bibliography. However, you get different results for the same search terms in this database as compared to MLA, so it's definitely a good idea to search both.
  
  
• Academic Search Premier -- This database indexes academic journals and books, but is not as exhaustive as the MLA bibliography. However, you get different results for the same search terms in this database as compared to MLA, so it's definitely a good idea to search both.
  
  
• GenderWatch -- This database is useful if you're doing research on gender. It tends to be more current events oriented rather than literary studies oriented.
  
  
• Literature Resource Center -- This database is good place to start if you know absolutely nothing about a particular author or text. The articles it features tend to be more informational rather than argumentative, and, as such, will not be useful in the latter stages of your research.
  


• Oxford English Dictionary (OED) --The OED is the most comprehensive dictionary of the English language. In addition to defining words, it also lists the dates particular definitions of words came into usage.

Web Resources:
You never know what you find on the web that the above databases may have missed.

• UF VSF links -- This page is an annotated list of Victorian studies-related links that have been compiled by myself and other UF grad students.
  
  
• Victoria Research Web -- Hosted by the University of Indiana--Bloomington, this site has variety of useful information for doing research on the Victorian Period.
  
  
• Google -- Sometimes one gets lucky and finds something really interesting through Google that other databases have not indexed. However, be aware that what you find might not necessarily be an academic source and thus not fulfill the requirements of the assignment. Look for sites that are .org or .edu -- these sites will tend (as in not always) to be more scholarly than .com's.

Finding Journal Articles:
Once you have a particular article that you want to look up, there are two ways of finding it. Remember that you will search for the name of the journal in order to find the particular number and issue the article you are interested in. Search results from the research databases listed above will give you the name of the journal, the volume and issue number (3:4 -- 3 is the volume and 4 the issue), and the pages of your particular article. You need all of this information to find the article.

• E-Journals database -- I recommend searching here first because it's definitely easier to print off an article from where ever you are than to go to the library and copy it yourself. This database is linked to the main UF libraries homepage (click on the "E-Journals" link).
  
  
• UF Library Catalog -- Remember to select "JOURNALS/SERIALS" when search for a journal.