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The following is a list of research competencies for English or American Literatjre majors.Please feel free to contact me at eltetos@pdx.edu if you would like to discuss the list. Sharon Elteto.
Research Competencies for English or American Literature Majors
I. Understand the structure of information within the field of literary research:
A. Differentiate between primary and secondary sources and use each appropriately.
B. Understand that literary scholarship is produced and disseminated in a variety of formats, including monographs, journal articles, conference proceedings, dissertations, reference sources and Web sites.
C. Learn the significant features (e.g., series title, volume number, imprint) of different kinds of documents (e.g., journal articles, monographs, essays from edited collections) before beginning research or attempting to apply citation style formats.
D. Differentiate between reviews of literary works and literary criticism.
E. Understand the concept of peer reviewed sources of information.
F. Understand that literary texts exist in a variety of editions, some of which are more authoritative or useful than others.
G. Understand the process of literary production, from authors’ manuscripts through publication in a variety of printed editions and formats and including availability in bookstores, libraries, and the Internet.
II. Identify and use key literary research tools to locate relevant information:
A. Effectively use library catalogs to identify relevant holdings at local institutions and print and online catalogs and bibliographic tools to identify holdings at other libraries.
B. Distinguish among the different types of reference works (e.g., bibliographies of bibliographies, annals, serial bibliographies, abstracts, literary dictionaries) and understand the kind of access to information offered by each.
C. Identify, locate, evaluate, and use reference information about authors, critics, and theorists.
D. Use subjective and objective sources such as book reviews and citation indexes to determine the relative importance of an author and/or specific work.
E. Use reference resources to provide background information and contextual information about social, intellectual, and literary culture.
F. Understand the range of physical locations in one's local library system and the local retrieval and delivery services available.
G. Understand the uses of consortia catalogs and services.
III. Plan effective search strategies and modify search strategies as needed:
A. Use appropriate commands (such as Boolean operators) for database searches
B. Identify broader, narrower, and related terms or concepts when initial searches retrieve few or no results
C. Identify and use subject terms from the MLA International Bibliography and other specialized indexes and bibliographies
D. Identify and use Library of Congress subject headings for literature and authors
IV. Recognize and make appropriate use of library services in the research process:
A. Identify and utilize librarians and reference services in the research process
B. Use interlibrary loan and document delivery to acquire materials not available at one's own library
C. Use digital resource service centers to read and create literary and critical documents in a variety of digital forms
V. Understand that some information sources are more authoritative than others and demonstrate critical thinking in the research process:
A. Learn the different types of Internet resources (e.g., electronic discussion lists, websites) and how to evaluate them for relevancy and credibility
B. Differentiate between resources provided free on the Internet and other electronic resources
VI. Understand the technical and ethical issues involved in writing research essays:
A. Employ the MLA documentation style and document sources ethically
B. Understand the relationship between received knowledge and the production of new knowledge in the discipline of literary studies
C. Analyze and ethically incorporate the work of others to create new knowledge
VII. Locate information about the literary profession itself:
A. Access information about graduate programs; specialized programs in film study, creative writing, and other related fields; and workshops and summer study opportunities
B. Access information about financial assistance and scholarships available for literary study and related fields
C. Access information on careers in literary studies | 
