Civil War & Reconstruction

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Don't see what you're looking for?  Use the Need Help box on the left to contact your librarian, call the Huskins Library main desk at (704) 878-3271, contact the Mooresville campus library at (704) 978-1356, or email library@mitchellcc.edu.

Research Topic Proposal

Writing a research topic proposal gives you the opportunity to map out your project and get feedback from your instructor to ensure you're on the right track from the beginning. 

Before you begin writing:

• Read your instructor's guidelines carefully.  Don't assume that you know the details of an assignment based on a brief overview in class or hearsay from your classmates.  If there are written guidelines for your assignment, read them completely--and ask your instructor about anything you do not understand--before you begin.
• Don't let emotion or personal bias overshadow your logic and evidence.  Be sure to support your claims with evidence from your research or from the original text rather than with your opinions.
• Remember your audience.  Keep in mind that your essay should be written using college-level research for a professional audience (your instructor).  Be careful not to condescend to your reader by making assumptions about his/her stance on your topic.
• Cite your sources.  If you make a statement that is not your own original thought or common knowledge (ex. "The sky is blue"), or reference other works directly, be sure to cite your source both in-text and at the end of your paper.

Library Databases

Websites

Don't see what you're looking for?  Use the Need Help box on the left to contact your librarian, call the Huskins Library main desk at (704) 878-3271, contact the Mooresville campus library at (704) 978-1356, or email library@mitchellcc.edu.

Annotated Bibliography

Before you begin writing:

• Read your instructor's guidelines carefully.  Don't assume that you know the details of an assignment based on a brief overview in class or hearsay from your classmates.  For example, be sure that you know what citation style to use.  If there are written guidelines for your assignment, read them completely--and ask your instructor about anything you do not understand--before you begin.
• Only include quality, relevant sources.  Review sources carefully before adding them to your annotated bibliography.  Make sure that they relate directly to your topic and that they contain useful, credible information.  
• Summarize your sources in your own words.  Don't take information directly from a source, as this is considered plagiarism.  Be sure to include important points from the source, but be careful not to make annotations too long by including unnecessary details.
• Remember your audience.  Keep in mind that your essay should be written using college-level language for a professional audience (your instructor).  
• Provide detailed evaluations (For more detail, see "Evaluating Sources: The C.R.A.A.P. Test ").  Provide reasons why you will, or will not, use each source for your research.  These reasons may include, but are not limited to:
  • Currency:  Does my instructor require sources to have been published after a certain date?  Is the information outdated?
  • Relevance:  Does the source relate to my topic?  Is it specific enough?
  • Authority:  Does the author have the credentials to show that they are an expert on this subject?  Is there an organization that sponsored this source, and if so, is it credible and reputable?
  • Accuracy:  Are there spelling/grammar/typographical errors?  Was it edited and published by professionals?
  • Purpose:  Is there bias or strong emotional language throughout the source?  Is it trying to sell you something?

eBooks

Library Databases

Websites

Don't see what you're looking for?  Use the Need Help box on the left to contact your librarian, call the Huskins Library main desk at (704) 878-3271, contact the Mooresville campus library at (704) 978-1356, or email library@mitchellcc.edu.

More American Literature Resources

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Reference Works

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Don't see what you're looking for?  Use the Need Help box on the left to contact your librarian, call the Huskins Library main desk at (704) 878-3271, contact the Mooresville campus library at (704) 978-1356, or email library@mitchellcc.edu.

Analyzing Poetry

Tips for reading and understanding poetry:

1.  Read it out loud.  Most poetry is intended to be spoken aloud (think Shakespeare's plays, for example).  Saying and hearing the words can often give you insight into the author's intentions, and can sometimes make it easier to understand.  

2.  Consider the context.  What was going on in the world at the time the poem was written?  What were the author's life experiences, and what was his/her life like around the time the poem was drafted?

3.  Look for patterns.  No part of a poem happens by accident.  Poets go through many drafts of a poem, in most cases, and make many careful revisions.  If you notice a theme, a word, a phrase, or something else happening in a pattern or repeatedly, take notice.

4.  Read it again, and again.  Poetry functions quite differently from prose.  Understanding the words on the page is only part of understanding a poem.  Readers must also consider form, references to other works, metaphor, and many other carefully crafted layers.  If you don't have it all figured out the first time you read it, don't worry--you're not supposed to.  Keep going!

Digitally restored black and white daguerrotype of Emily Dickinson, c. early 1847.

Author unknown [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Need more poetry help?  Check out these great resources!

Books

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Don't see what you're looking for?  Use the Need Help box on the left to contact your librarian, call the Huskins Library main desk at (704) 878-3271, contact the Mooresville campus library at (704) 978-1356, or email library@mitchellcc.edu.

Interlibrary Loan Request

So you've looked all over the library and you can't find what you need--now what?

Mitchell Library is able to borrow items from other institutions via Community College Libraries in North Carolina (CCLINC) using interlibrary loan.  This service is free to all library users*!

To request an item, fill out the Interlibrary Loan Request form, found both here and on the library homepage.  Be sure to fill out as much of the form as you can, as this will help ensure the correct item is requested.  A librarian will work to fill your request and will let you know when your item is ready for pick-up.

*Must have a valid student ID or MCC library card.

ILL FAQs

Q:  When will I get my book/other item?  How long will it take?

A.  That depends on many factors, including how far the item is traveling from its home institution, how long it takes to get a response from the library lending the materials, etc.  However, the majority of requested items arrive in a week or less.

Q:  What do I do with my ILL book when I'm done with it?  Do I need to mail it back to the lending library?

A:  No.  Simply drop the book off at any MCC library location, and your item(s) will be returned to the correct institution.

Q:  How long do I get to keep ILL items?

A:  Most ILL items are loaned for one month, which starts when the item is dropped into the mail by the lending institution.  Your library staff will stamp your item with its due date.  While all lending libraries do have the right to ask for their items back early, this rarely happens.

Q:  Can I renew ILL items?

A:  Yes.  Unless another student has requested that item, you can renew ILL materials.  Call or stop by any MCC library location, and our staff will be happy to assist you with renewals.  Just remember, all requests for renewals must be made before the item's original due date.

Q:  How many ILL items can I get at one time?

A:  Students can check out up to five items at once, including ILL items.

Q:  There's a book that I need, but it's "non-circulating."  Can you help me?

A:  Yes.  In many cases, a librarian can request scanned or photocopied pages of non-circulating books, which have been designated for library use only.  These may be sent in the form of a fax if only a few pages are needed, or may be scanned and emailed, or photocopied and sent via traditional mail if more than 10 pages are required.

Q:  What about journal articles?

A:  We can ask for digital or print copies of articles from other institutions, too!  If you find an article online that you cannot access, or that requires a paid subscription to view, ask you library staff to help you locate it for free.

Don't see what you're looking for?  Use the Need Help box on the left to contact your librarian, call the Huskins Library main desk at (704) 878-3271, contact the Mooresville campus library at (704) 978-1356, or email library@mitchellcc.edu.