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MFA - Creative Writing

Use this guide to help you research during your MFA program.

OneSearch

OneSearch is a good place to start your research. Use this search box to find books, peer-reviewed articles, videos, and more. After you search, you can use filters to narrow your search.
OneSearch

Try the new AI-powered OneSearch Research Assistant

Tips for Finding Articles About Literature

Use these tips to find articles and information about literature:

  • Try searching a different database or journal. Each one contains different articles.
  • Search for the author's name or the title of one of their works.
  • Try searching any of these with an author's name or title:
    • Time period or culture of one of the author's books
    • Genre
    • The author's other works
    • Literary elements, i.e. metaphors, plot points, etc.
    • Themes in the work you're researching

Keyword Examples 

  • Latinx poetry
  • Indigenous short fiction
  • diaspora in contemporary fiction
  • South Asian short stories

Databases

Library databases each contain and search different resources and are more focused than OneSearch. Use these databases to find sources for your assignments. Not sure which one to use? Ask a librarian and we'll be happy to help you choose the right one!

Use Google Scholar

There are times it may be helpful to try searching Google Scholar. Google Scholar will find a LOT of scholarly articles, and it may be harder to narrow by topic. But it can be helpful if you are struggling to find sources. It is also helpful if you want to understand what literature is available on a topic.

When searching in Google Scholar, access it through the CSP library (link below). This will provide links to articles available in the CSP library and help you find the full text. 

How to Search Google Scholar