Ø Reference sources

Ø Secondary sources

Ø Primary sources

These sources can be in paper and/or multi-media formats, including the internet. Systematically examining these materials in a scholarly manner is known as a literature review.

• Overviews of topics, definitions, key facts, and background information

• Short articles or single chapters on topics
• Often written or edited by historians
• Often written in language that is easily understood
• Often provide suggested authors and sources for further reading
• Some reference materials are available on-line
• Good starting point for history research assignments

• Lack of comprehensive detail, brief content
• Most current information or research not always included

• Discussions, presentations about historical people, periods and events
• Popular history for the general public
• Scholarly history for the academic community
• Original research findings and analysis of historical topics written by historians and related scholars
• Historical perspectives
• Summaries of historical schools of thought and theories
• Current news about recent historical findings

• Comprehensive presentations in books
• Specific topic presentations in articles
• Comparison, synthesis and summary of previous works
• Some books, articles or websites written in language to engage a broad audience; not just historians
• Some books, articles or websites written in an academic language to engage historians and other scholars
• Interpretations of history are provided from the author’s particular point of view
• Quality control - journal articles are reviewed by other historians in the field prior to publication (peer-review)
• Detailed, in-depth research and discussion of a specific stated topic in scholarly books or journal articles (thesis statement)
• Refers to additional related writings by historians and other scholars
• Recent articles can be a source for the most current research

• Some items are lengthy
• Interpretations of history are provided from the author’s particular point of view

Boolean operators

Search in most databases by entering a keyword or a combination of keywords. Most databases use boolean operators. These are helpful to sort through large files of articles. Link two or more strategic keywords to create search statements. The and operator is the most frequently used, but or and not can also be useful, depending on what you are researching. The method for entering boolean searches may differ between databases, but they will essentially perform the same function. Look at the Help screens in the particular database for information about how to search.

Enlightenment and "Great Awakening"                negro or  african-american                                                                      

____________  and _____________                   ______________ or ____________

Bacon not Francis

______________ not ____________

(social or population) AND (instability or division) AND (colonial and america*)

“French and Indian War”

• The original correspondence, diaries, documents, images, letters, maps, and other materials created during a particular time in history

• Can be narrow in focus
• Can be voluminous, extensive content
• Can be difficult to read; requires a level of background knowledge in the area

• Are the authors well-known in the history/scholarly community?
• Do the authors list their affiliations (i.e., government, organization, university)?
• Who sponsors or authorizes the web site? Are they reputable?
• Is the material presented clearly and free from typographical and factual errors?
• Is a comprehensive list of references included?