HI 3321: Topics in Modern European History

B. Baller

Off campus?

Off campus access to resources with proxy.

Background Information

While gathering general information and facts...

Make a list of keywords and add to this list as you find more
Follow up on relevant authors, researchers, experts
Gather statistical information to build scope and impact of problem
Consider all perspectives: historic, economic, social, political, etc.

Beyond reading your class texts try...

The free web: search engines and other free web sites such as Wikipedia

Books

Books can be beneficial if searching historical topics, as they will give in-depth analysis of a topic. Specialized encyclopedias such as the International Encyclopedia of Women and Sports can give a valuable, concise overview of a topic. This should be used to glean keywords, names, and dates to use in your article searches.

Possible subject headings:

Evaluate...

Evaluating Web Resources Checklist (PDF)

According to a study at Stanford, nearly half of all web site evaluators (46.1%) used visual cues, to assess a site's credibility. Move beyond what a site looks like...

Authority
Scope
Currency
Accuracy

Sports -- Europe -- History.
Sports -- Europe -- Sociological aspects
Nationalism and sports.
Sports and state Europe.

Find Books at WPI (library catalog) | Beyond (WorldCat)

Find Articles about Your Topic

All databases listed are WPI subscriptions. But check out Google Scholar, a web search of scholarly sources.

New York Times - ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Full text and image 1851 - 2003. For current NYT articles 1980+ search LEXIS®-NEXIS® Academic
LEXIS®-NEXIS® Academic: Current full text news, legal, medical, and business information. News coverage ranges from regional coverage (Worcester T & G) to national. Some back to 1980s. Choose GUIDED NEWS tab, WORLD NEWS, to find articles in European Newspapers such as London Times or Guardian.
Historical Abstracts: References to articles on historic topics. International topics well covered.
Readers Guide Retro: References to articles on historic topics (1980-1982) but indexes most American publications.
Filter and Follow Up...
- Scan results: use subject headings/descriptors, keywords, phrases found to expand search
- Scrutinize article titles, number of pages, and journal title
- Browse promising abstract and conclusion sections of long studies
- Bibliographies can clue you in on the value of the article as well
- Find an interesting author? Search for more articles or for his/her web site
- Notice an agency, association or expert mentioned in an article? Follow up!
- Limit by date ranges to focus your topic
Gale PowerSearch: Articles on all topics, click refereed checkbox to limit only to scholarly articles. Contains articles back to the 1980s but good coverage of historical topics.
JSTOR: Complete full text of important scholarly journals in a variety of academic fields. Coverage: Varies by publication but many back to late 1800s.

Only Finding a Citation? Getting the Full Text

Is the journal online or here in the library? Search our Journals, Magazines, & Newspapers list
Visit another library: Search WorldCat to find one
Request delivery from another library: Interlibrary Loan.

Give Credit! Cite Your Sources

Is Your Topic to Broad?

Move from women in football in europe to a working hypothesis. After browsing research tools, databases, the web, you should be able to zone in on a narrowly focused question that with your research, you attempt to take a position and answer. Focus on geographic area, time period, specific sport or league. For instance, Impact of World War II on Women's Soccer in the United Kingdom.

Questions?

Stop by the reference desk or set up a research consultation.

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Last modified: Feb 15, 2008, 10:31 EST