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.
China: Playing cards in a tea house at Black Dragon Pool Park, north of Lijiang Old Town, Yunnan Province. Photograph. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, Jun 02 2022. quest.eb.com/images/325_4384420. Accessed 25 Mar 2025.
COD Library Student Research Sympoisum
- COD Library Student Research SymposiumThe COD Library Student Research Symposium will take place the evening of Monday, May 12, 2025 in the library. Students from across campus will have the opportunity to present their academic research work to an engaged and welcoming audience of faculty, staff, administration, other students, and even interested community members.
Prizes include
First prize, $750.00
Second prize, $500.00
Third prize, $250.00
Honorable mentions, $100.00
Visit our website for more information!
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 historical importance of Tea in Chinese history you'll want to do some preliminary search for background information. Ask yourself "so what?" about your topic. For example, so what about China and Tea?
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 China and Tea I found that China sold porcelain teaware to the British, resulting in a trade imbalance between the two countires. This information could be a good entry point for narrowing down your broader topic.
- Books - search the COD Library for books that give an overview of your topic.
Resources for your paper
Once you have some background on your topic, then start to gather resources for your 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
