PreCollegeWriting_Nefer

toc =ENG 099: Pre-College Writing=
 * Professor: Tua Nefer**



This guide is designed to help you research conduct research. It includes an index of scholarly sources that should be used. Included in the list are websites and search engines that will be helpful in your research. If you have any trouble finding these sources, please ask a librarian for help. Good Luck! Any comments or suggestions are welcome!
 * [|RCC Library Home Page]: Most materials found in this research guide are available at the library's home page.
 * whoag@rcc.mass.edu: Please contact me if you have any questions concerning this guide or research.

=Primary Sources Defined:= Primary source is an original document or object created at the time or recorded later (in the form of oral history, autobiographies and memoirs) concerning the topic being researched. There are many types of primary sources which include:
 * Books and periodicals (autobiographies, newspaper articles, manuscripts)
 * Original research
 * Pictures
 * Music
 * Government documents
 * Maps
 * Oral history
 * Legal documents
 * Video
 * Art

Secondary Sources Defined:
A secondary source is a work that interprets or analyzes an historical event or phenomenon. It is generally at least one step removed from the event and is often based on primary sources.
 * Books- History books, encyclopedias, scholarly biographies, textbooks.
 * Articles- Literary criticism
 * Web sites


 * Finding primary sources**:
 * Use the library's [|Online Catalog] to find reference materials and books.
 * Search databases for primary source material.
 * Use the Internet to locate and use primary sources. Usually any search engine like AltaVista and Google can be used to find excellent places to start. Examples of a searches would be "slavery primary sources" or "civil rights primary sources".

=Using the Internet to find Primary Sources=


 * ==Library of Congress: American Memories==

Example: Zora Neale Hurston




 * ==[|The National Archives: teaching with documents]==

Example: Amistad
 * [[image:rcclibrary/NA.gif]] ||
 * Natinal Archive web site ||


 * [[image:rcclibrary/am.gif]] ||
 * Click on "The Amistad Case" for primary documents ||


 * [[image:rcclibrary/am2.gif]] ||
 * Primary documents and activities ||


 * ==[|The Avalon Project]==
 * [[image:rcclibrary/am3.gif]] ||
 * Click on "19 Century Documents" ||


 * [[image:rcclibrary/am5.gif]] ||
 * Click on "argument of John Quincy Adams" to read document ||


 * [[image:rcclibrary/am6.gif]] ||
 * Complete argument by John Quincy Adams ||

=Selected Primary Source Web Sites=
 * [|AMDOCS]: Many primary sources from American history.
 * [|American Memory]: From the Library of Congress. Many Photos, manuscripts, maps etc.
 * [|Avalon Project]: One of the best places to get full text digitized primary sources in law, history and diplomacy. Loads of historical documents, treaties and cases. Created and maintained by the Yale Law School.
 * [|Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers]: From the Library of Congress. Digitized historical newspapers.
 * [|Colonial Background Texts & 19th Century American Historical Documents Online]: Part of [|19th Century American Literary, Historical and Cultural Studies]: Many links to primary documents.
 * [|Digital Librarian: Electronic texts and primary sources]: Comprehensive directory of primary sources.
 * [|Documenting the American South]: Hosted by UNC, this site has many primary documents on slavery, which include slave narratives and photos.
 * [|National Archives]: Great site for historical documents, pictures, speeches and more.
 * [|Perseus]: From Tufts University. A very good collection of ancient texts.
 * [|Primary Documents Online:] From the CSUSM Library, excellent directory of primary source web sites.
 * Wikimedia Commons

Using Databases to find primary sources
 * ==[|African American Experience]==

Example: Martin Luther King Jr.





African American Experience
The African American Experience is the definitive electronic research tool for African American history and culture.

American History Online
Spans more than 500 years of political, military, social, and cultural history, highlighting the important people and events of the American experience. Includes timelines, biographies, primary sources and audio/video files.

ARTstor
The ARTstor Digital Library offers more than one million images in the arts, architecture, humanities, and social sciences with a suite of software tools to view, present, and manage images for research and pedagogical purposes.

=Citing Sources: Style Guides=

__[|APA Style Tutorial]__[|Duke Library Guide to Assembling a List of Works Cited][|Laguardia Community College Library MLA and APA citation style][|The Owl at Purdue: APA Formatting and Style Guide][|The Owl at Purdue: MLA 2009 Formatting and Style Guide]

=Basic Research Help= Please click the Ask a Librarian icon if you have any questions concerning these guides, need help finding material for your research or any general questions you might have.
 * Looking for books? Search our [|Online Catalog].
 * Looking for articles? Search our [|Databases].
 * Can't find what you are looking for? Use our [|InterLibrary Loan Form].

**General Library Information**

 * Contact Us
 * [|Staff]
 * [|Hours]

Research guide prepared on 09/18/11 by Wiliam Hoag: whoag@rcc.mass.edu