U.S. History Research Paper

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Locating In-Depth Detailed Sources, databases and Primary Sources

Remember...

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• Informed citizens read and conduct good research to learn about the world.�
• Primary sources are important to historical research because they are a window into a specific time period

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Today’s Objective

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• To locate and evaluate the required sources appropriate for supporting your thesis.

A Variety of Sources

• An overview source

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• An in-depth, detailed source (a book devoted exclusively to your topic or containing a long chapter about your topic)

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• GHS library paid databases (primary sources, newspapers, journals, and magazine articles)

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• A primary source

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• Reliable, useful (relevant) free websites

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The Process - Step 1: Your Overview Source Done!

This is a summary / big picture about your topic.

• It helps you to narrow down your focus and develop your thesis.

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Overview → In-Depth Source → Articles from Databases / website(s) / other articles

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General → Specific → Very Specific (supplement the detailed source)

The Process - Step 2: In-Depth Detailed Source

• Overview →Detailed
• General → Specific

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• One book, one topic concept– large quantity of information with depth
• You need a big chunk of information
• Use the GHS Library Catalog
• Maximum number 2 books can be checked out @GHS Library on your topic
• Books checked out for one month - need to renew online day before due

Locating a Book

• Understanding what you see in the catalog:

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✮ F: fiction- Do NOT use

✮ B: biography- May be helpful

✮ 940.54 Can REF - Reference format - good for overview but � not for in-depth detailed source

✭ 940.54 Can - Call number- non-fiction; Good

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The Dewey Decimal System

Call number

Location on the shelf and author’s last name

Book is in. You can check it out.

Non-Fiction

How do I evaluate a book?

• Is it broken up into chapters or sections that allows you to locate the information you’re looking for?
• Check out to see if it has a Table of Contents or an Index where you can locate your topic.
• Do you understand it? (Usability)
• Does it provide support for my thesis? (Relevance)

The Process – Step 3: Focused Articles from Databases

• Overview →Detailed Source → Focused Database Articles
• General → Specific → Very Specific

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Ideas from the Overview & Skimming of detailed source:

• Chicago Defender – A Newspaper
• Robert Abbott (publisher of the Chicago Defender)
• Harlem Renaissance

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Locating Database Articles �Magazines, Newspapers, Journals

• Gale Resources - one stop shopping

Gale in Context: Biography

Gale in Context: U.S. History

Magazine and Journal articles

Chapters in books

Websites

Primary sources

Gale Academic OneFile (Scholarly, longer articles)

Gale General OneFile (more popular magazine articles)

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Locating Database Articles �Magazines, Newspapers, Journals

• Issues & Controversies in American History

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• Comprehensive in-depth coverage of the key issues and great debates in U.S. History

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• JSTOR
• Articles from scholarly historical journals

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The Process – Step 4: Primary Sources and �Free Websites

• Overview →Detailed Source → Articles from Databases → primary sources / websites / additional articles
• General → Specific → Very Specific → supplemental information for depth of research

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Ideas after reading specific articles:

• Can I find an original article from the Chicago Defender?
• A speech Robert Abbott might have given?

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Locating Primary Sources and Reliable Free Websites

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• Proquest Historical Newspapers (Primary Sources); 1851-
• Google for primary sources: “Cuban missile crisis” and “primary source”

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How Do You Evaluate a Website?

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Use the LEAVE process to guide you when searching on the free web.

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Remember: if you see too many “red flags” while conducting the LEAVE process, leave the site alone and find another one.

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Is there an official organization, society, agency for your topic? Start there!

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Let’s explore some examples:� https://foodinsight.org/not-all-sugars-are-the-same/

https://www.verywellfit.com/guess-how-much-sugar-is-in-a-can-of-soda-2506919�

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