Introduction
This guide contains information you'll need for using the COD Library resources.
If you need additional help, please contact the History Librarian or stop by the Reference Desk. You can also contact a Reference Librarian online: Ask A Librarian.
P.S. 58 - Carroll & Smith Sts. Bklyn. hold a "take cover" drill practice Here youngsters crawl under their desks / / photo by Walter Albertin.
Workshop Agenda
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Library Website
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SIFT
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Finding sources
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Library Tour
Source Evaluation
Getting Started
(Suggested) Steps for conducting research in History.
There are many entry points in joining a conversation about history. You might find a book, article, film, a primary source, something from a text book - all of these sources can provide a point of entry into a topic. But first, you need to find your topic!
If you need an introduction to, or background information on, a topic
If you already have a vague idea about your topic, for example, the Chinese Exclusionary Act of 1882, you'll want to do some preliminary search for background information. Ask yourself "so what?" about your topic. So what about the Chinese Exclusionary Act of 1882? How does the topic fit in or interact with other historical events or ideas?
Background Information - Searching
Encyclopedias are often your best friend for getting background information on a topic.
- Use encyclopedias available from the COD Library, such as Credo and Encyclopedia Britannica, These are EXCELLENT sources that are written by scholars with academic credentials.
- Search Wikipedia - While this site can be updated by anyone, it can be useful to find ideas related to your topic. For example, in searching Chinese Exclusionary Act of 1882 I find that the American Federation of Labor supported the Act as a means to protect the wages of U.S. citizens. This information could be a good entry point for narrowing down a broader topic.
- Books - search the COD Library for books that give an overview of your topic.
Resources for an assignment
Once you have some background on your topic, then start to gather resources for a paper or presentation. In searching for secondary sources, use the COD Library to find articles and books on your specific topic.
Suggested resources include:
- JSTOR - an archive of scholarly articles only on nearly every academic discipline
- Academic Search Complete - another multi-disciplinary database that has both scholarly and popular articles, including newspaper articles, and some multi-media sources
- Library catalog - find books and video related to your topic
Select Assignment Topics
- Paper 1: Manifest Destiny
- Paper 2: Compromise of 1877
- Paper 3: Populism – Who were the populists? What were their issues? What role did regional differences play in the movement?
