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Roots of Contemporary Issues (Hist 105/305) Research

This page provides links to short videos demonstrating databases required for the Roots of Contemporary Issues research assignment

LRA 2: Tips and Ideas for Finding Books in Search It

Beyond your LRA 2 text, here are some other tips and ideas for successfully finding books:

  1. Link to Search It.
  2. Take note as to whether the book is currently checked out, missing, at a different WSU campus, or if it is not available at WSU (no library location and call number listed, instead says "Get it for me from other libraries"). In all of these cases, a copy of the book is retrievable through a free Interlibrary Loan request. Click on the desired "REQUEST ITEM" button and note that getting a print book takes about five working days before you can pick up your book at your local WSU campus library or have it delivered to your home. You will want to use local and currently available books if you don’t have that much time to complete your assignment.
  3. It is important to remember that all material checked out from the WSU Libraries must be returned or renewed on time or fines and fees will be assessed.
  4. Check your online account in Search It (click on the "sign in" link in the upper right) to determine your due dates and to renew, or ask at any WSU Libraries' circulation desk.

Click on the image of the Librarian (Corey Johnson) below for hints on how to proceed.

LRA 2: Specifics for Using JSTOR and Project Muse

JSTOR (see link above) = be sure to narrow to the item type to “Articles,” so you do not get book reviews. While reviews can be helpful in finding books, you cannot substitute them for full-length scholarly articles for this assignment. Also, remember to narrow to history journals in the "Journal Filter: Narrow by discipline" area.

Project Muse (see link above) = after you've done your search, limit your results to "Articles" from the "Content Type" (see left side of the results screen) and to history journals by clicking the "History" check box in the "Research Area" limiter space.

LRA 2: Characteristics of History Monographs and History Journal Articles

Roots of Contemporary Issues – History Monograph and Journal Article Characteristics (Secondary Sources)

Characteristics of history monographs

  1. One (or two) authors
  2. University publisher
  3. “history” or historical terms in the Subject Headings
  4. Call numbers begin with D, E, F, H
  5. Book record says, “includes bibliographical references”
  6. Covers deeper history in terms of content
  7. Published recently

Characteristics of history journal articles

  1. Preferably from a history journal
  2. Covers deeper history in terms of content
  3. Published recently

It is important to know the difference between history monographs and edited volumes, this tutorial addresses the topic.

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