JESSICA BOYD: Restoration & Eighteenth-Century British Literature

Book cover for Derek Parker's biography of renowned 18th-century actress/Charles II's most fancied mistress, Nell Gwyn

Each of the bibliographic assignments undertaken in this course enabled a more wholesome approach to executing effective and proper research.  Personally, my familiarity with navigating online databases and devising workable search parameters serves as a strength in my research endeavors.  I find that in the majority of instances, I am quite adept at choosing keywords that bring about plentiful results, and thus allow for more in-depth, scholarly research and information synthesis.  I also believe that I am successful at identifying credible internet sources that are the lone acceptable sources when undertaking any research assignment.  All of these skills have been nurtured by and evidenced in the arsenal of research paper assignments I have written that are endemic to the English major.

The first assignment, which mandated a review of a literature review, was the most useful because it not only provided the opportunity to become more familiar with the form and function of the literature review, but it also allowed the opportunity to review a literature review.  By deconstructing the piece, I gained insight on how to best prepare for writing a successful literature review.  As accomplished by each of the other bibliographic assignments, it is expected that this assignment will facilitate my success in the English major, as well as any career path I choose.  Hopefully, my classmates will enjoy similar benefits from this course and the tidbits provided on my website.