HIST 301: Methods & Writing (Strathman)

You have been given a great deal of freedom in selecting your research topic and this can be overwhelming. Recorded US History covers a large variety of topics and historians in American History have been prolific in both building collections (e.g., museums) and publishing research. This guide is to help in navigating the myriad resources you have to select from, but...

Before committing to a focus in your topic, you will need to do some beginning research on the topic to be sure appropriate and sufficient resources are available. With even a vague topic idea, you can brainstorm alternate terms, personal names, geography (cities, regions), events, and specific time periods. These can come from your notes and readings, personal knowledge, or current topic you find interesting in order to look at the historical antecedents. Sources in both access and formats have changed over time, so be flexible, imaginative, and do not hesitate to ask for help!

Important considerations besides are you interested in the topic and how much material might be available:

• Where is the material you need located?
• If not at CSUSM, can you travel to the collection or can it be lent out from the holding institution?
• How much of it is primary source? (Be careful about this--for more information, see the Primary tab.)
• Is information available on the full picture? (Some authors and collections will be biased in order to make a point.)