I spent a little time thinking how I might approach creating a "perfect article" on a topic. Here are my thoughts, which I hope you will find helpful.

First, I would check Wikipedia to see if an article already exists. If so, what information is there about the 1920s and 1930s? I also HIGHLY recommend Answers.com, which pulls together information from many different sources, including on-line encyclopedias. (Look at this link for Harold Clurman, for instance.)

Next, I would probably go to an encyclopedia (see the list at the library research guide for Drama or general theatre history book (for instance, Oscar Brockett's History of the Theatre or Wilson and Goldfarb's Living Theater, both of which are included on our class bookcart. At this stage, all I'm looking for are the basic facts (birth, death, productions, etc.) and a general sense about what was most important about their contributions to the theater of the 1920s and 1930s. I might also check out the obituaries once I know the year the person died.

I think I would also spend some time with the General and Selected Reference Sources listed on the library's Research Guide. My guess: I could find almost everything I need in about an hour of looking through these books. Talk about compressed info! Why search all over the world when a 45-minute visit to a single shelf in the library and a dollar worth of copies will get me everything I need?

Now, I think it is time for a general Google search. Put quotation marks around names or titles. Once I have a list of webpages, I would look for pages that seem reputable. My guess: what I find may be redundant with what I have already found in the library. Then why not start with Google? Mainly, because Google searches aren't focused enough. The amount of time I spend sifting through dozens of websites would probably be more than I'd spend in the library. You know I love technology, but when it comes to this kind of research, I have found it is faster to use the reference section of the library.

By now, I should have a decent number of the basic facts. Now I need some spice. Did the person write an autobiography? If so, I would check out the chapter(s) that focus on my research. Did somebody else write a book about him or her? If so, read the introduction for an overview, and skim the chapter(s) that seem most relevant.

If the person or theatre or play was based in New York, I would do a search in the New York Times for a review of an important play or other newspaper articles or interviews. This would give me some real life historical perspective to spice up my presentation.

Finally, I might see if there are any visual records I could use: photos, drawings (Hirchfield drawings can be really great), videos or DVDs of productions, documentaries.

By now, I should have enough raw material. It is time to organize it. How? Find a model. Go to the Wikipedia Theatre Project and scroll down to the "Featured Articles on Theatre" and find out the format that is being used -- then I'd separate my info into the different categories. If I am writing about a play, I'd check out the Templates that have already been developed -- no need to reinvent the wheel. I'd also check out some of the Wikipedia links on our homepage.

Once I have my general structure, I would sort my notes into a logical order. Now it is just me and my ability to connect facts in a smooth and interesting manner. I'd refresh myself on the Guide to Writing Better Articles just to get myself in the right frame of mind.

Once I have a draft, I'd check out the Manual of Style. Edit and proof. And read my article out loud. This is the best way I have found to make sure that my writing flows smoothly and dynamically. Make it interesting!

If I had a partner, I'd give it to him or her to give it a once-over. And that's it!