Literature for 12A
A Man for All Seasons by
The classic play about Sir Thomas More, the Lord chancellor who refused to compromise and was executed by Henry VIII.
Available in full-text from the GCC Library website through OneSearch.
Library Resources for Your 12A Research Project
The databases featured on this page will help you find credible, authoritative information about topics related to the works you are reading this semester. All of these sources are FREE to registered GCC students in the high school programs!
Select from the menu on the left to find out more about how to use academic sources responsibly and how to cite your sources using MLA format.
Choose Your Topic
One of the most difficult things when getting started on a research paper can be coming up with a strategy to begin exploring a topic. Some topics are too broad, and need to be broken down into smaller parts, which can help a lot. Some topics are too narrow, and need to be expanded.
A just-right topic will reflect the length of a research paper (how many pages are you required to write?), the amount of time you have to complete the paper, and the number of sources you're being asked to incorporate into your paper.
Background Research
One way to come up with a topic is to do background research. This includes reading encyclopedia articles to learn more about a broad subject. Once you know more about the subject, you can make connections between topics and sub-topics. Then write a short summary of what you have learned from your background research.
It helps to think of your main topic as a starting point for your research, not a destination.
Research Ideas
Here is a sample list of heroes to use as a topic. For more ideas, please refer to your Research Guide.
Essential Questions
Use an essential question to narrow your topic and develop your paper's thesis. Here is an example of an essential question. For more, refer to your class Research Guide or speak with your instructor.
Your Works Cited Page
You'll be using MLA format to cite each of the sources used in your paper. MLA format has two primary functions:
MLA also provides guidelines on formatting your paper, from what to include on your cover page, where to place your page numbers, what size font you should use, and more!
The websites below offer detailed information on how to use MLA. And you're always welcome to ask a GCC librarian for help with MLA - or anything else!
Recommended Databases
The databases listed below are FREE to students enrolled in classes at Garfield Campus!
Databases are frequently the best place to begin your research and often have more reliable and authoritative information than what you'll find in Google.
When searching in databases, it's important to use the right keywords or phrases to describe your topic. A keyword is a single word that defines what you are seeking. A phrase is two or more words that define what you are seeking.
Depending on your topic, you can combine keywords and/or phrases to narrow or broaden your search. Here is an example related to your assignment using different modern-day heroes as a main topic.
"Al Gore" AND "Inconvenient Truth"
Begin your research by exploring the databases below and see where they lead you!
The library provides access to several reference databases to help you find general information about a topic. Britannica Academic, Credo Reference, and Gale EBOOKS are three databases that can help you start searching for an overview about your topic and other related information.
For your topic, you may want to search a variety of databases. A subject database, such as Gale U.S. History in Context, can help you find an overview of your topic plus images and primary sources. An article database, such as ProQuest, can help you find newspaper, magazine, and journal articles that provide a contemporary perspective on modern-day heroes.
America: History and Life with Full Text
To find articles in this database, enter your keywords in the Advance Search boxes. You may have to expand your search to "All Text" in order to find articles. To do this, change the selection in the drop-down menu to the right of the search box(es) from "Select A Field" to "TX All Text."
To view Kanopy videos, first click on the video above to open the GCC Sign-In portal. Once you have signed in using your Canvas username and password, Kanopy will open. To view videos, you can create a Kanopy account using your GCC student email address. Click on the red "Log In To Glendale" button. Clicking on the video image above will open the database log in page. After logging in, Kanopy will open. Once you have created your account, you can search for the video by title and view it or save it to watch later.
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