HIST 152: Get Started
A guide to help students in History 152.
Selecting a topic
Readings
-
Look through your readings or the news for ideas on what to write about. What sounds interesting to you? What do you want to know more about?
Personal Experience
-
Research something that is personal. What are you interested in? What makes you angry? What needs to change in the world? The possibilities are endless.
Getting Started: Encyclopedias & Dictionaries
Begin your research by searching for background information on your topic, using one of the Reference Databases listed below.
- Credo Reference
Provides full-text access to a large digital collection of reference materials. In addition to dictionaries and encyclopedias, biographies, maps and images are available.
- Encyclopedia Britannica
Provides access to the complete encyclopedia and includes many illustrations, photographs, and audio & video clip
- Google Search -- Search around on Google to practice your keywords and see if there is information on your topic. Get an overview by reading a short web article.
Research Tip
Developing the proper keywords is a crucial step in the research process. Use the overview stage to help you find the best terms for searching and to develop a search strategy.