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ENGL 1113 - Professor Andy Miller

Module 3 - Writing About History

Module 3 - Writing About History 

You’ll find (in module 3.1) a list of historical topics, each with three sources. Each historical topic is actually a chronologically specific historical event. For example, you might find “Kent State killings of 1970,” but not “Vietnam war” or “Vietnam war protests.” For each topic, you’ll find three articles—one primary source (an article written at the time of the event), and two secondary sources (articles written after the time of the event). Some sources will be journalistic, while others will be academic. Finally, for each topic you’ll find a research question—which you will use the provided sources to answer. Note that you must use ALL THREE of the sources in your essay. In addition, you will also be required to find a multimedia source, which will also be used in the essay.

Read the primary source and two secondary sources on your chosen historical event (note that you may also need to consult some support materials to understand the event). Each topic has been provided with similar research question, for example: “How has the media discussion of the Kent State shootings changed since 1970”?

The three sources you already have (1 primary, 2 secondary) can be read in this way-- you can look for patterns, changes in emphasis, new questions or perspectives, critiques or revisions of what was previously settled or assumed. But you still need one more source to analyze-- a video, image, graph, table, photograph, etc.

This can be either a primary or secondary source. But it should be relevant to your historical question. How does your multimedia item provide a new piece of the puzzle? How does it help you to discern a pattern in the treatment of your topic?

Your essay will be an argument that such a pattern does in fact exist. You will prove-- through a close reading of your four sources-- that the media's treatment of your historical event has changed over time.

Primary Sources

Primary Sources

A primary source is an original document or physical object created at the time of an event or phenomenon. Examples include diaries, photographs, official documents, artifacts, interviews, and works of art. These sources provide firsthand accounts and direct evidence of historical events, making them invaluable for research.

  • Authenticity: Primary sources offer unmediated access to the past, allowing researchers to engage directly with the thoughts and experiences of those who lived through events.
  • Contextual Understanding: They provide context and nuance that can often be lost in later interpretations, enabling a deeper understanding of historical, cultural, or social dynamics.
  • Critical Analysis: Engaging with primary sources encourages critical thinking, as researchers must analyze and interpret these materials, considering their origin, purpose, and perspective.

Examples include, but are not limited to: 

  • newspaper or magazine accounts
  • diaries, memoirs, or autobiographies
  • correspondence
  • congressional hearings
  • government reports
  • government or organizational archives
  • manuscripts

Primary Sources

Evaluating Sources

The following publications can be found in the library databases with the exception of Internet Sites.  They each have strengths and weaknesses depending on the type of information you are seeking.

  • Internet Sites:
    • Most current information available
    • Least reliable
  • Newspapers:
    • Provide current information
    • Not always accurate
  • Popular Magazines:
    • Geared to the popular reader at an 8th grade level
    • Published weekly
    • Have lots of pictures
  • Trade publications:
    • Professional Association information in them
    • Continuing Education resources
    • Job Ads in the back of them
    • Published every other week or monthly
  • Scholarly publications:
    • Go through a peer review process
    • More reliable
    • Much slower publication rate

Source: Lee College. "ENGL 1302 - Miller: Home." LibGuides at Lee College, 19 June 2023, lee.libguides.com/ENGL1302-Miller.

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Secondary Sources

Secondary Sources

A secondary source interprets, analyzes, or summarizes primary sources or historical events. Examples include textbooks, articles, documentaries, and biographies. These sources often provide context, commentary, or critique, drawing from primary materials to create a narrative or argument.

  • Synthesis of Information: Secondary sources compile and synthesize information from various primary sources, making it easier to grasp broader trends and themes in history or a specific field.
  • Interpretation and Analysis: They provide scholarly perspectives, which can help researchers understand different viewpoints and the evolution of interpretations over time.
  • Accessibility: Secondary sources often present complex ideas in a more accessible way, helping those who may not have the expertise to engage with primary sources effectively. 

Examples include, but are not limited to: 

  • Books: Scholarly books analyzing historical events, literature, or social phenomena.
  • Journal Articles: Research articles that review or synthesize previous studies.
  • Biographies: Life stories written about someone by another person.
  • Documentaries: Films that interpret and analyze historical events or cultural phenomena.
  • Reviews: Critiques of literature, art, or performances.
  • Encyclopedias: Entries summarizing information on various topics, often synthesizing multiple primary sources.

Analyzing Primary and Secondary Sources

Scholarly/Peer-Reviewed vs Popular Publications

What is the difference between a journal and an article?

  • In a research context when a professor asks for a journal they are usually referring to a scholarly periodical. For a definition of a scholarly periodical see below.
  • An article is a piece of writing included with others in a newspaper, magazine, or journal. Articles are what make up journals, magazines, and newspapers.

Scholarly Periodicals – Journals

  • written by and for researchers and scholars
  • includes full citations
  • peer-reviewed(articles are viewed by specialists before published)
  • authors are not paid
  • sometimes called academic articles or peer-reviewed articles

Popular Periodicals – Magazines

  • written by journalists or professional writers
  • rarely give citations
  • written for the general public
  • generally shorter articles
  • advertisements

Source: Lee College. "ENGL 1302 - Miller: Home." LibGuides at Lee College, 19 June 2023, lee.libguides.com/ENGL1302-Miller.

Citing Sources

MLA Citation Resources

Citation Generators

  • CiteFast - Fast and free citation generator for MLA, APA, and Chicago Styles
  • EasyBib - Creates citations in APA, MLA and Chicago styles.
  • Citation Machine - Creates citations in APA, MLA and Chicago styles.

MS Word:  After you open your Word document, use the "References" tab to access their citation builder.  Includes MLA, APA, and Chicago, among others.