Besides the library catalog. I can't find anything at the library. I have to do a research paper on Shel Silverstein, and I'm only allowed to use one internet source. Do you know where I could find the titles of some books that have to do with him?
2007-01-13 03:36:08 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
Sigh.
It drives me crazy when I hear teachers giving assignments that can only include ONE internet source. This is a lazy way for your teacher to make the point that they don't want you to just submit a list of references from bootleg websites you pulled from a Google search. I agree wholeheartedly with this principle because much of what you'd find on google are not legitimate sources of information.
HOWEVER, when you teacher says that you may only use ONE internet source, they're often implying that you may not use an online database like Nexis or Factiva or Academic Search Premier that index LEGITIMATE newspaper and magazine articles!
Doesn't your teacher understand that for many types subjects, journal articles, interviews, etc are the most appropriate material available on a subject? AND that they are almost always more readily available in an online database. This doesn't mean that you are copying the entry from wikipedia. This means you are using technology to help you access as much information as you possibly can about your topic!
Your teacher is not teaching you how to properly research anything. This is a very very common problem.
OK, end of my tirade. Sorry about that!!!
First question: how old are you/ what grade are you in? Some of my suggestions below will be either past your grade level or below it but I am just going to throw it all out there for you to take what you want.
I did a search on http://worldcat.org/ , an open catalog of books in libraries nationwide, and aside from short bios geared toward elementary school kids there aren't many substantive books about Silverstein's life. I found reference to this one by Ruth K. MacDonald but haven't found a copy of it.
Amazon returns the same results: plenty of wonderful books BY him but just a few short bios about him geared towards age 9-12. If this is your age group, then you might want to get this one ( http://worldcat.org/oclc/62282029&referer=brief_results )
Next would be to look for books about children's poetry or writing in general for entries about him. Here is one. Maybe your library has it. If not ask the librarian to request if from another library via InterLibrary Loan.
http://worldcat.org/oclc/22117200&referer=brief_results
These kinds of encyclopedia type publications are very helpful to form your ideas but they can't be the foundation of your paper. That is where interviews and profiles come in.
Publishers Weekly (probably THE most important industry trade magazine) did a profile of him in the February 24, 1975 issue written by Jean F. Mercier.
You will also find biographical information in obituaries eg: In the NY Times look for obituary by William Honan 5/11/1999 and David Mamet wrote a profile about him on October 14, 2001.
Another NYTime article November 8, 1981
Another profile appeared in a magazine called Library Talk Volume 10 (1997): 16 written by Sharron McElmeel
He was born in Chicago so you might look through some chicago newspapers (Tribune and Sun-Times) to see if anyone did any big stories about him over the years.
You may also find leads to other sources of information in these articles and you can connect the dots.
There is tons of stuff out there. It just isn't all in book form.
I hope this helps ! Good luck!
2007-01-13 04:07:07 · answer #1 · answered by ♥ Sono A ♥ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi. :-)
Try the Wikipedia.com
There you will gets alot of info on your Shel Silverstein it covers his Bio/Personal life, His friends, Interviews, books, etc....
Good Luck with your research. I hope this help.
:-)
2007-01-13 03:59:14 · answer #2 · answered by bottom dollar 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
He's a great choice! Amazon.com has three pages of his books (even those that are out of print) and also books about him; some of the listings include reviews and biographic snips.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/103-7169575-5789401?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=shel+silverstein
2007-01-13 04:01:44 · answer #3 · answered by dognhorsemom 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you want help finding library books that mention him, see if your library has a subscription to novel list. That site is amazingly helpful when looking for a good book on anything.
If they don't, try encyclopedias. And your site should probably be wikipedia, like someone else said- that site has everything.
2007-01-13 04:28:34 · answer #4 · answered by treehuggingveganhippy 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
online
2007-01-13 03:39:14 · answer #5 · answered by Answerfinder1360 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋