The Handmaids Tale research strategies and resources

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The Handmaids Taleresearch strategies and
resources

• Celita DeArmond
• Instructor/Reference Distance Learning
  Librarian
• cdearmon_at_accd.edu

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Research is a process

• I. Define your research topic
• II. Devise a search strategy for your topic
• III. Search sources to find books, articles, etc.
• Lather, rinse, EVALUATE, repeat?

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The Handmaids Tale

• So many themes to choose from!
• Civil liberties, environment, religion,
  pornography, birth control, censorship, body
  image, womens rights, conformity, fertility,
  class, democratic responsibility, mass movements,
  intimacy, touch deprivation, media roles,
  costume/dress, jealousy, sex roles, suicide,
  loyalty, patriotism, apathy, separation of church
  and state, blame/shame/guilt, love, purity,
  gender communication, motherhood, the power of
  information

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I. Define your research topic

• Broad area(s)
• women in the media, objectification, body image
• More specific aspect(s)?
• Use background tools to get ideas and overview
• Answer the Where? When? Who? Why? and How? of
  your topic
• List What you know v. What youd like to find
  out
• Research question(s) or statement(s)
• Do media portrayals of women as sex objects have
  a negative effect on society?

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II. Devise a search strategyDo media
portrayals of women as sex objects have a
negative effect on society?
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III. Search sources to find books, articles,
etc.http//www.accd.edu/sac/lrc
A
B
C
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Keyword v. Subject ???

• Start with a keyword search
• Searches for keywords anywhere!
• Find one item that fits your research topic and
  look at the subject headings
• Search using those subject headings
• Searches for items that are organized under a
  specific topic!

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III. Search Sources - review

• A. Looking for BOOKS, VIDEOS, etc,?
• Catalog
• Stay broad, dont get too specific
• B. Looking for periodical ARTICLES?
• Databases
• Get specific!
• Not full-text? ? Journal Locator
• C. Looking for FREE WWW sources?
• Search the Internet OR Web Sources by Topic
• Evaluate, Evaluate, Evaluate!!!

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Off-campus access / Q A

• Off-campus access requires your SS and your
  PIN (SAC personal PIN)
• Questions?
• Email or call me!
• cdearmon_at_accd.edu
• 733-2598