 |
Step 3:
|
Reference Desk (413) 774-1509 |
- Continue using reference sources to locate background information and identify good search terms
- Use specialized encyclopedias and reference sources in history databases for background information and help understanding terminology:
American History Online (use the Learning Centers)
History Reference Center (use the Timeline)
History Study Center (use the Study Units) - Browse the websites on the U.S. History Research Guide for primary document collections on the Internet
- Pick out major concepts or keywords from every source you browse-- identify synonyms and broader and narrower terms
- Collect these keywords for later research
- Pay particular attention to the language used in subject headings in the catalog or databases--they are excellent search terms
- Test your topics by searching the catalog (for books) or research databases (for articles) to determine how much information is readily available on them
- Use the bibliographies of reference sources to locate additional sources
Go back to: U.S. History Research Guide
Resources
- Writing a Research Paper (Purdue Online Writing Lab)
- Research and Writing for High School Students (Internet Public Library)
- Planning and Writing a Research Paper (U. of Wisconsin-Madison)
- Library Online Basic Orientation (LOBO)(NC State)
- The Seven Steps of the Research Process (Cornell U.)
Documents