Oedipus the King and
Research Strategies
POP QUIZ OVER THE
INTRODUCTION
Write the number of the question and your answer.
1. Sigmund Freud discusses what the play reveals about
human nature; he calls it the “Oedipus Complex.” What is
the Oedipus complex? [It was the weird idea discussed in
the Introduction] (3 points)
2. Oedipus is the tragic hero of the play. Who is the villain? (3
points)
3. Are there supernatural events in the play? (3 points)
4. Why should you do your reading outside of class? (1 point)
Research Strategy #1:
Keywords
Basic Keyword Searches When a basic keyword search is
performed, the system locates words and phrases throughout
the bibliographic record, which is the information about a book
or other item that is listed in a library catalog or database.
0 TIP #1 - Parentheses To search by keyword, enter one or
more search terms. Try enclosing phrases with quotation
marks in order to search for the whole word together.
0 "media influence"
0 "body image"
0 "united states”
Research Strategies
0 TIP #2 – Asterisk A search word or keyword
can be truncated or shortened, to retrieve
singular, plural and variant spellings. Use the
symbol * at the end of the keyword fragment. Be
careful of truncating too far.
0 EXAMPLE: To search for variations of the word
advertise (advertisements, advertising etc.)
0advert* (will retrieve too many unrelated results)
0advertis* (retrieves advertisers, advertise,
advertising, advertisement, advertisements)
Boolean Operators
Boolean operators help to narrow or broaden your search.
The most useful logical connectors are AND, OR, NOT.
0 AND finds records containing both terms. This narrows the search.
For example:
0 “media influence" AND "body image"
0 female AND advertis*
0 OR finds records containing either one or both terms. This broadens
the search. It can also be used to account for variant spellings. For
example:
0 image or identity
0 "United States" OR America
0 NOT finds records containing the first term, but not the second term.
This narrows the search. For example:
0 adolescents NOT male
0 advertisements NOT commercials
0 You can use more than one logical connector in the same
search statement.
0 "media influence" AND adolescents NOT male
Research Strategies
0 When to Use Parenthesis
0 Use parenthesis when your search includes
synonyms or to prioritize searches. (The search
inside the parentheses is executed first)
0 (image or identity) and "media influence”
0 Report out experiences using the EBSCO
database, Academic Search Premier, to
research your topics from the weekend.
Oedipus the King
Anticipation Guide
0 This handout for Oedipus the King will help
you organize the characters and keep track of
your beliefs on important universal statements
that the play explores.
0 Today, you are going to write AGREE or
DISAGREE for each statement and move to
the side of the room to denote your choice.
THIS IS A SILENT ACTIVITY.
0 YOU MAY NOT WRITE “MAYBE.”
No Switzerland here, folks.
WARM-UP
Complete the Research Pre-Assessment.
This pre-assessment is worth 10 points.
Role and Purpose of
Empirical Research
0 To provide answers to questions about behavior by
using the scientific method.
0 Descriptive (to “describe’)
0 Correlational (to “predict”)
0 Causal-(to “control, explain causation”)
0 Experimental
0 Comparative
Process of Empirical Research
0 Identify and define research problem and
questions.
0 Formulate hypotheses on basis of theory, prior
research and/or hunches.
0 Design research study to collect data bearing on
questions.
0 Conduct the research.
0 Analyze the data (through statistical methods).
0 Interpret the data in light of the research
questions.
Standard Format of
Research Articles
0 Abstract
0 Introduction: Context, Research Problem, Review of
Literature
0 Methods
0 Results
0 Discussion
0 References
Introduction
0 Background - the reasons the author(s) conducted
the study; theoretical framework
0 Statement of Purpose - the goal of the research (the
destination); the problem statement
0 Hypotheses - “educated guesses” about
relationships or differences
Methodology
0 Participants (sample) - who the subjects are, how
obtained/selected
0 Materials (equipment, apparatus, measuring
instruments) - what was used, quality of measuring
instruments
0 Procedures - how study was conducted; what
subjects did or what was done to them
Results
0 Technical summary of the statistical analyses used:
0 In text
0 In tables
0 In figures
Discussion/Conclusions
0 Non-technical interpretation of results
0 Linking results to original purposes and hypotheses
0 Why the results turned out the way they did
0 Identifying the study’s limitations
0 Suggesting steps for further research
Taking Notes
on the Sources
How to Read Your Research Articles
Taking Notes on
the Sources: Abstract
0 When looking for articles on
your topic, first read the
abstract, summary, or
overview of the article.
0 Usually the abstract or
overview will give you some
idea whether the article will
be useful to your essay.
Taking Notes on the Sources:
Title, Intro, Conclusion
0 Look for and read the:
0 Title
0 Introduction
0 Conclusion
0 The title, introduction, and
conclusion should provide
you with the main ideas of
the article.
Article Used: Lowes, L. "Managing type 1 diabetes in childhood and adolescence." Nursing Standard 22.44 (09 July 2008): 50. CINAHL Plus with Full Text. EBSCO.
[Library name], [City], [State abbreviation]. 17 Sep. 2008 <http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rzh&AN=2009973341&site=ehost-live>.
Taking Notes on the Sources:
Topic Sentences
0 Reading the topic sentence
of each paragraph can help
you get the main idea of
the paragraph.
0 Making note of topic
sentences can be useful
when retrieving information
at a later date.
Article Used: Lowes, L. "Managing type 1 diabetes in childhood and adolescence." Nursing Standard 22.44 (09 July 2008): 50. CINAHL Plus with Full Text. EBSCO.
[Library name], [City], [State abbreviation]. 17 Sep. 2008 <http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rzh&AN=2009973341&site=ehost-live>.
Taking Notes on the Sources:
Keeping track of your sources
0 Keep track of your sources as you
find them.
0 One way is to write the citation
information down on a note card.
0 Another way would be to keep track of
the citations in a separate Word file.
0 You should record where you found
your information so you can locate it
easily later on.
Taking Notes on the Sources:
Print and Underline
You should print the
articles that look useful for
your essay.
Take the opportunity to
read the article and mark
key passages that seem
interesting or important.
You may find it helpful to
take notes in the margins.
Article Used: Lowes, L. "Managing type 1 diabetes in childhood and adolescence." Nursing Standard 22.44 (09 July 2008): 50. CINAHL Plus with Full Text. EBSCO.
[Library name], [City], [State abbreviation]. 17 Sep. 2008 <http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rzh&AN=2009973341&site=ehost-live>.
Sophocles’ Theban Plays
0 Sophocles’ Theban Plays include:
1. Antigone
2. Oedipus Rex or Oedipus the King
3. Oedipus at Colonus
0 These plays are often anthologized together but they are not
considered a trilogy. Each play should be considered a
separate work though the characters appear in the various
plays.
0 In fact, some of these plays were written as far as 40 years
apart!
Oedipus’ Backstory
0 Sophocles’ audience would most likely already have known
the events leading to the curse of Laius and his descendants
that resulted in Oedipus’ tragic destiny.
0 Sophocles’ intent was clearly to illustrate the downfall of the
great Oedipus and not chronicle the family saga, so he does
not share the backstory with us.
The Curse of Laius
0 Laius was the son of Labdacus, the King of Thebes. When
Labdacus died, Laius was raised by his mother, who ruled
Thebes as his regent. Two cousins (Amphion and Zethus)
usurped the throne and plotted to kill young Laius, so he was
smuggled out of Thebes and given to Pelops, King of Pisa, to
raise.
0 Laius eventually became the tutor of Pelops’ favorite son,
Chrysippus, whom he abducted and took back to Thebes.
Amphion and Zethus having died, Laius claimed his throne
and kept Chrysippus captive. Pelops raised an army to
demand the return of his son, but it was discovered that
Chrysippus was already dead.
The Curse of Laius
0 Because of his poor treatment of his host and his host’s son,
Laius and his house were cursed. When he married Jocasta,
he was warned not to have children by her because his son
by Jocasta would one day kill him.
0 One night, while drunk, Laius imprudently disregarded the
prophesy—some sources say Jocasta intentionally got Laius
drunk—and a baby boy was conceived. Thus, at the root of
that ill destiny is an act of Free Will that went against nature
and angered the gods.
0 Therefore, the land was cursed and Laius had his son sent
away to be killed.
How Oedipus
Became King
0 Thebes was ravaged by a Sphinx. Anyone that could not
answer its riddle was killed.
0 King Laius decided to seek the Oracle at Delphi to learn
how to restore his land and on the way he was killed by
thieves.
0 Oedipus came to Thebes around this time and answered
the riddle correctly, destroying the Sphinx. Since Laius was
dead and the land kingless, Oedipus became king.
Can you answer the riddle correctly?
The Riddle of the Sphinx
In Greek legend, the Sphinx devoured all
travelers who could not answer the riddle it
posed:
"What is the creature that walks on
four legs in the morning, two legs at
noon and three in the evening?”
The first person to answer it
correctly earns an “Extra Day” pass.
Oedipus the King
ACTORS
0 Read your line with enthusiasm. Do not break
character. If you do not know a word, keep going.
Maintain the fluency of the lines.
0 Remember to clip your name tag in a clear, visible
place.
0 Use a different accent each time you accept a
new role
AUDIENCE
0 Enjoy the show!