AuthorQuest

Scenario

When he is not grading your papers, your English teacher, Mr. Kane, is writing a book about authors. He is very behind schedule and the book editor is upset. Mr. Kane needs your help to find facts for his book. He will assign the name of an author to research and you must find the appropriate information for him.

Task

1. You will use various library resources to find the information about your assigned author, including print, online, and the Web. Be aware that the Web is not always reliable, so verify your facts in print resources.

2. You will need to find the following information:

Date of birth
Place of birth
Parents' names
Educational background
The dates of three major events in the person's life
Place of current residence, if applicable
Date and place of death if, applicable
Title and date of the earliest important work by this writer
Title of five other works and their dates
One quote by the person about his/her work or writing in general
One quote by another writer about your subject

3. Research your topic using the following resources:

Step 1:
Go to
The Benet Library Web Page
http://www.benet.org
Click on Students Resources, then Library.
Under library you will find many different resources. For this assignment click on
EbscoHost. Find two magazine articles about your topic.

Step 2:
Also on the Benet Web page, go to Internet Search Engines. Click on FindSpot. Click on AltaVista. Type in your search statement. Find two Web sites.

Step 3:
Reduce Netscape Navigator by clicking on the minus button in the upper right hand corner of your screen.

Step 4:
Click on Student Programs, then Library Programs, to access the Benet CD-ROM programs and Benet Card Catalog.
Go to SIRS. Find one magazine article.
Go to The Chicago Tribune. Find two newspaper articles from different years.
Go to Benet Card Catalog. Also browse the reference shelves in the 800's. Find one book.

Product

Choose one of the following two products.

Product 1

Type the information you find using the format specified by your teacher in the example he passes out.

You must use a variety of resources, including a book, magazine articles, and Web sites.
All articles, books, and Web sites you use must be cited in proper bibliographic form following the Benet Style Manual.
Fill out a Web site evaluation form, available from your teacher or the librarian, for each Web site cited.

Product 2

Design a book jacket cover for one of the significant books your author wrote. Include the biographical information about the author on the back flap of the cover. Include quotes about the author and book said by other authors on the back of the cover.

You must use a variety of resources, including a book, magazine articles, and Web sites.
Attach a works cited page for all of the articles, books, and Web sites you use, following the Benet Style Manual.
Fill out a Web site evaluation form (available from your teacher or the librarian) for each Web site cited.

Teachers: Download a copy of the student worksheet that accompies this MiniQuest. You will need Adobe Acrobat to view this file.