Introduction
Introducing your companion
Using the companion
Section I Guide to studying literature at university
Introduction
What type of guide is this?
Is such a guide really necessary?
'Literary', 'primary', 'secondary': a note on terminology
Getting organized
Your course of study
Preparing for courses
Getting the most from lectures, seminars and tutorials
Using the library
Reading literary texts
Reading and studying: general points
Reading prose fiction: novels, novellas and short stories
Reading drama
Reading poetry
Literary criticism
What is literary criticism?
How to find relevant criticism
Using criticism
Writing essays
Analysing the question
Formulating and structuring an argument
Applying literary theory in essays
Writing
Guidelines on presentation/style
Plagiarism and how to avoid it
Making a presentation
Exams
Preparation and revision
Taking exams
Section 2 Guide to the use of electronic resources
Some introductory comments
Finding primary electronic information
Issues of reliability
Reading in the electronic age
Searching and analysing electronic texts
Finding secondary materials
Library catalogues
Online databases
Journals and periodicals
Searching the Internet for literary resources
Evaluating online secondary sources
Useful sites
Documenting electronic media
Revising and editing electronically
Safety measures
Section 3 Theories and approaches