Preliminary links and descriptions

   
http://staff.edmonds.wednet.edu/users/hansonk/LITERARY%20PERIODS%20AND%20THEIR%20CHARACTERISTICS.htm
This site can tell me certain characteristics about American contemporary literature. this includes genre, styles, and gives examples.

http://www.mapsofworld.com/referrals/books/fiction-books/contemporary-fiction-books/contemporary-literature-books.html
This site gives information about events that affected Contemporary literature. It also tells me different styles of literature.

http://contemporarylit.about.com/b/
This site tells about different types of popular literature in the Contemporary period. It shows major books of the Contemporary period.

http://college.cengage.com/english/lauter/heath/5e/instructors/irm/contemp.pdf
This site gives me information about the wars during the Contemporary period. This will tell me how it affects the literature.