Home > Research Guides > History Guides
Researching and Writing Papers in History
- Dartmouth Writing Program, Materials for Students: Writing the Academic Paper
- Going to the Sources, a Guide to Historical Research and Writing
- D16 .B893 2002
- The Historian's Toolbox, a Student's Guide to the Theory and Craft of History
- D16 .W62 2003
- History : A Student's Guide to Research and Writing
- The History Handbook
- D 16.2 .B395 2003
- How to study and write for History
- Reading, Writing, and Researching for History: a Guide for College Students
- A Short Guide to Writing About History
- D 13 .M294 2002
- Some Tips for Writing History Papers
- A Student's Guide to History
- D 16.3 .B4 1998
- The Writing Center; University of North Carolina
- Writing History, a Guide for Students
- D 16 .S864 1999
Types of Information Sources
Primary vs. Secondary Sources
- Primary sources are firsthand or eyewitness accounts. They present the actual evidence of an event without any analysis or interpretation. Primary sources include diaries, letters, legal or court documents, laws, speeches, statistics, journals, original research documents, and the like.
- Secondary sources analyze, interpret, retell, explain, or critique primary sources.
Scholarly vs. Popular Sources
- Scholarly sources are written by the experts in the subject matter. They are often written for use by other scholars, researchers, or serious students of the subject. They often use language that is specific to that discipline. They usually include in-text citations or footnotes and a works cited or bibliography. They are often peer-reviewed, meaning the article has been anonymously reviewed by a panel of experts in the topic before it has been accepted for publication. They are usually published by a professional organization, research center, or scholarly press.
- Popular sources are written for a more general audience, not necessarily expert in the topic. They are often written by journalists or others who are not professionals in the field. They are written in easy to understand language; they do not use technical jargon. Although they may have footnotes and/or citations, they are usually not as extensive. There may be little or no editorial review.
Print Sources vs. Online Sources vs. Web Sources
- Print sources are those that exist in a hard copy format such as a book, printed magazine, or a DVD.
- Online sources are electronic versions of items that originally existed in a hard copy format. Although they may be delivered in a web based format, they are not necessarily "web sites". For example, articles located in the Library's databases are online copies of items that usually have a hard copy version.
- Web sources are sources that exist only in a web-based format; there is no hard copy version.
Citing Sources
The MLA format (Modern Language Association) is commonly used to create bibliographies or works cited pages. The sources below may help you.
- MLA List of Works Cited
- NoodleBib
- Using Modern Language Association Format (OWL)
Professors in other disciplines or professors at other schools may prefer a different citation style. It's always best to ask to be sure what style they would like you to use. For professional writing in the field of history, the Chicago Manual of Style is the preferred citation format. These are some sources to help with that format
- Chicago Manual of Style
- Reference Z 253 .U69 1993
- Chicago Manual of Style Citation Guide (Williams College)
- Research and Documentation Online: History
Ken Orenic, Reference Librarian
630-942-2338
orenick@cod.edu
September 2012
Print
Send