History: Search Effectively

After you choose your topic...

Make sure you have Primary and Secondary sources!

• Primary Sources: "first-hand record(s) of an event or topic created by a participant in or a witness to that event or topic.”

  • Ex. Document, letter, eye-witness account, diary, article, book, recording, statistical data, manuscript, or art object 

• Secondary Sources: "second-hand information written or created after an event. Secondary sources may summarize, interpret, review, or criticize existing events or works."

  • Ex. Books, articles, encyclopedias, textbooks

Quotes from Library of Congress.

Use databases 

• When searching utilize boolean terms (and, or, not) to refine your search.
• Remember: if you are adding or searching a phrase, add quotations or parenthesis to make sure you're searching the whole phrases!
• Ex:
  • "President Abraham Lincoln" AND "Civil War" 
  • If you write President Abraham Lincoln and Civil War, it will search "President" "Abraham" "Civil" "War" individually.
     

Boolean Terms Diagram