Hello! This course guide has been created for students enrolled in the Beginning Screenwriting course. In this guide, you will find several resources intended to help with your research coursework.

For research help you can use the chat box on this guide, drop by the Library during staffed hours, or scheduled a research appointment (link on this guide) or directly with Lisa Thornell lthornell@fairfield.edu.

The following source types may be of interest for your topic:

• Memoirs, biographies [Search our Catalog for Books]
• Dictionaries, encyclopedias, glossaries to find the vocabulary use on a topic [See Selected Resources Tab]
• Other published books or articles  [Search our Catalog for Books or use the Research Guide for articles]
• Newspapers and magazines - historical or current  [See Selected Resources Tab]
• Census data, government websites or archives, town/city websites
• Social media
• Documentaries, movies, tv shows, news clips [See Selected Resources Tab]
• YouTube videos
• Podcasts
• Interviews - is there someone you can set up an interview with?

It may be helpful to consider these questions, jot down what comes to mind and make a plan for what you need to find

• What do I already know about _________?
• What do I need to know_________? What type of sources will I need to find this information?
• What was happening in the world/your chosen location at the time of my story? Are there any specific events I need to learn about? Do I know how people spoke during that time or at that place?
• Is there anyone I could interview to learn more about this perspective, identity, etc.?
• Is there a group or organization that is an authority on what I am writing about?
• What biases do I have that might affect how I write a particular character/group/location/etc.?