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How to research and write your history term paper. Step One: Identify a Topic. Course Website: “Research Paper Topics” Find a topic that interests you Sports, Politics, War. Step Two: Literature Review. What is a secondary source? Where do I find secondary sources?
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Step One: Identify a Topic • Course Website: • “Research Paper Topics” • Find a topic that interests you • Sports, Politics, War
Step Two: Literature Review • What is a secondary source? • Where do I find secondary sources? • Go to UWG Library homepage • Click on “Databases” • Click on “All Subjects” • Click on “J-STOR” • What can I find on J-STOR? • Recently published scholarly articles and book reviews • Text searchable • Who many sources do I need? • Three sources are required but . . .
Step Two: Literature Review • Why conduct a literature review? • Context, basic historical facts • Citations provide information on related secondary and primary source materials
Step Three: Primary Source Research • What is a primary source? • Where can I find primary sources? • UWG Library homepage • Click on “Databases” • Click on “History” • What newspapers are relevant to my research? • National Politics—Washington Post • Leo Frank Lynching—Atlanta Constitution • Montgomery Bus Boycott—African-American Newspapers • Reconstruction—America’s Historical Newspapers
Primary Source Research • How do I find what I need using a digital newspaper collection? • Collections are text searchable • How do I judge what information is most significant? • How many newspapers should I consult?
Where else can I locate primary source materials? • Google Books • LIFE Magazine (1953-1970s) • Library of Congress website • Jackie Robinson • Montgomery Bus Boycott • Presidential Libraries • Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Step Four: Developing a Thesis • What is a thesis? • What does a thesis need in order to be persuasive? • Where should the thesis appear in your paper?