Meta-indexes

"Metaindex" is a clumsy name for a web page that contains a list -- normally annotated -- of other indexes, or of indexes and web pages, on a given subject or several subjects. They can be a very helpful way to narrow down the search for web pages that are useful for research purposes. We will concentrate on metaindexes useful for literary research.

Please check out these pages:

VOICE OF THE SHUTTLE: Web Page for Humanities Research -- also known as VOS.
This site aims to be the most comprehensive metaindex devoted to "humanities" research, and specifically to literature.

A few others include:

• Top Humanities Websites (National Endowment for the Humanities).
• Yahoo!'s Literature Directory.
• Literary Resources on the Net, by Jack Lynch, U. Penn. It includes a link to Penn's gopher list of literary mailing lists -- I don't know of any other quite like it!

Browser through VOS. Look for sites/mailing lists/ Internet material that appear relevant to your topic. Study at least 5 of them carefully.

Write about 100 words about three such sites that you found especially useful. Make sure you explore each site you choose carefully, so that you have lots to say about it. Do not be descriptive only -- try to be analytical as well, so that your essay will be as useful to yourself and others as possible.

Email this to me and to the class as a whole.