Description

Book Synopsis

It's been almost 30 years since the first edition of Going to the Sources: A Guide to Historical Research and Writing was first published. Newly revised and updated, the sixth edition of this bestselling guide helps students at all levels meet the challenge of writing their first (or their first real) research paper.

Presenting various schools of thought, this useful tool explores the dynamic, nature, and professional history of research papers, and shows readers how to identify, find, and evaluate both primary and secondary sources for their own writing assignments.

This new edition addresses the shifting nature of historical study over the last twenty years. Going to the Sources: A Guide to Historical Research and Writing includes:

  • A new section analyzing attempts by authors of historical works to identify and cultivate the appropriate public for their writings, from scholars appealing to a small circle of fellow specialists, to popular aut

    Table of Contents

    Preface x

    1 The Ever-Changing Shape and Texture of the Past 1

    Static and Dynamic Concepts of History 1

    Revising Our View of the Past 3

    New Forms of Historical Consciousness 4

    Toward a "People's History" 6

    Minorities and Women Enter History 7

    The Annales School and Cliometrics 9

    Psychology and History 12

    Microhistory and Macrohistory 13

    Postmodernism 14

    A Multitude of Avenues to the Past 15

    2 The Nature and Variety of Historical Sources 17

    Primary Sources 17

    Manuscript Sources 18

    Published Sources 18

    Secondary Works 21

    Books 22

    Essays 24

    Articles 24

    Dissertations and Conference Papers 26

    3 Finding Your Sources: The Online Library Catalog and Beyond 30

    The Online Library Catalog 31

    Subject Headings, Keywords, and Title Words 32

    Creating and Using a Research Bibliography 36

    Published Bibliographies 38

    Printed and Electronic Indexes and Abstracts 40

    Finding Scholarly Essays 45

    Other Important Databases 46

    Historical Research on the Internet 47

    Finding Useful Reference Materials 48

    4 Getting the Most Out of History Books: Critical Reading and Assessment 51

    The Need for More Effective Reading 51

    Finding Out about Authors 53

    Comparing Similar Works of History 55

    Reviewing a History Book 62

    5 Beyond Textual Sources: Historians’Use of Other Media 64

    Words, Images, and the Historical Imagination 64

    The Birth of a Nation: Entertainment, Propaganda, and Critical Response 65

    Reading, Viewing, Reflecting: A Case Study 72

    The Evolving Integration of Text and Image 75

    6 History's Public(s) and Public History 77

    Reaching Out to a Mass Public by Early Electronic Media 78

    History and Journalism 80

    Beyond the Classroom and the Study: Public History 82

    Contested History in the Public Arena 86

    7 Exploring Changing Interpretations: The Historiographic Essay 89

    Selecting and Refining a Topic 89

    Research for a Historiographic Essay: A Case Study 91

    Writing the Historiographic Essay 94

    Alternative Approaches 108

    8 Engaging with Primary Sources: The Research Paper 110

    Searching for a Viable Topic 111

    Finding Primary Sources 112

    Approaching Your Reading 113

    Notetaking 114

    The Outline and Structure of Your Paper 118

    Some Elements of Effective Writing 119

    An Open Mind and Intellectual Honesty 122

    Quoting 123

    Footnoting 125

    Editing and Revising 127

    One Final Look 129

    9 Conclusion: The Open-Ended Nature of History 130

    Appendix A: Published Bibliographies 133

    Appendix B: Major Databases for Bibliographic Searching 135

    Appendix C: Footnote/Endnote Formatting 136

    Books 136

    Book by a Single Author 136

    Book by Two Authors 137

    Book by Three Authors 137

    Book by Four or More Authors 137

    Book with Author(s) as Editor(s) 137

    Articles and Essays (Chapters) 137

    Journal Article 138

    Magazine Article 138

    Newspaper Article 138

    Encyclopedia Article 138

    Essay (Chapter) 138

    Book Review 139

    Other Types of Sources 139

    Dissertation 139

    Government Document 139

    Website 139

    Videorecording 139

    Footnote Reference to a Previously Cited Work 139

    Appendix D: Bibliography Formatting 141

    Book 141

    Article 141

    Essay (Chapter) 141

    Dissertation 141

    Sample Bibliography 142

    Appendix E: Commonly Used Abbreviations 144

    Suggestions for Further Reading 146

    Index 148

Going to the Sources

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    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Fri 7 Aug 2026.

    A Paperback / softback by Anthony Brundage

      Trusted by thousands of customers. See 2,385+ Customer Reviews

      View other formats and editions of Going to the Sources by Anthony Brundage

      Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd
      Publication Date: Publication Date: 27/06/2017
      ISBN13: 9781119262749, 978-1119262749
      ISBN10: 1119262747

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      It's been almost 30 years since the first edition of Going to the Sources: A Guide to Historical Research and Writing was first published. Newly revised and updated, the sixth edition of this bestselling guide helps students at all levels meet the challenge of writing their first (or their first real) research paper.

      Presenting various schools of thought, this useful tool explores the dynamic, nature, and professional history of research papers, and shows readers how to identify, find, and evaluate both primary and secondary sources for their own writing assignments.

      This new edition addresses the shifting nature of historical study over the last twenty years. Going to the Sources: A Guide to Historical Research and Writing includes:

      • A new section analyzing attempts by authors of historical works to identify and cultivate the appropriate public for their writings, from scholars appealing to a small circle of fellow specialists, to popular aut

        Table of Contents

        Preface x

        1 The Ever-Changing Shape and Texture of the Past 1

        Static and Dynamic Concepts of History 1

        Revising Our View of the Past 3

        New Forms of Historical Consciousness 4

        Toward a "People's History" 6

        Minorities and Women Enter History 7

        The Annales School and Cliometrics 9

        Psychology and History 12

        Microhistory and Macrohistory 13

        Postmodernism 14

        A Multitude of Avenues to the Past 15

        2 The Nature and Variety of Historical Sources 17

        Primary Sources 17

        Manuscript Sources 18

        Published Sources 18

        Secondary Works 21

        Books 22

        Essays 24

        Articles 24

        Dissertations and Conference Papers 26

        3 Finding Your Sources: The Online Library Catalog and Beyond 30

        The Online Library Catalog 31

        Subject Headings, Keywords, and Title Words 32

        Creating and Using a Research Bibliography 36

        Published Bibliographies 38

        Printed and Electronic Indexes and Abstracts 40

        Finding Scholarly Essays 45

        Other Important Databases 46

        Historical Research on the Internet 47

        Finding Useful Reference Materials 48

        4 Getting the Most Out of History Books: Critical Reading and Assessment 51

        The Need for More Effective Reading 51

        Finding Out about Authors 53

        Comparing Similar Works of History 55

        Reviewing a History Book 62

        5 Beyond Textual Sources: Historians’Use of Other Media 64

        Words, Images, and the Historical Imagination 64

        The Birth of a Nation: Entertainment, Propaganda, and Critical Response 65

        Reading, Viewing, Reflecting: A Case Study 72

        The Evolving Integration of Text and Image 75

        6 History's Public(s) and Public History 77

        Reaching Out to a Mass Public by Early Electronic Media 78

        History and Journalism 80

        Beyond the Classroom and the Study: Public History 82

        Contested History in the Public Arena 86

        7 Exploring Changing Interpretations: The Historiographic Essay 89

        Selecting and Refining a Topic 89

        Research for a Historiographic Essay: A Case Study 91

        Writing the Historiographic Essay 94

        Alternative Approaches 108

        8 Engaging with Primary Sources: The Research Paper 110

        Searching for a Viable Topic 111

        Finding Primary Sources 112

        Approaching Your Reading 113

        Notetaking 114

        The Outline and Structure of Your Paper 118

        Some Elements of Effective Writing 119

        An Open Mind and Intellectual Honesty 122

        Quoting 123

        Footnoting 125

        Editing and Revising 127

        One Final Look 129

        9 Conclusion: The Open-Ended Nature of History 130

        Appendix A: Published Bibliographies 133

        Appendix B: Major Databases for Bibliographic Searching 135

        Appendix C: Footnote/Endnote Formatting 136

        Books 136

        Book by a Single Author 136

        Book by Two Authors 137

        Book by Three Authors 137

        Book by Four or More Authors 137

        Book with Author(s) as Editor(s) 137

        Articles and Essays (Chapters) 137

        Journal Article 138

        Magazine Article 138

        Newspaper Article 138

        Encyclopedia Article 138

        Essay (Chapter) 138

        Book Review 139

        Other Types of Sources 139

        Dissertation 139

        Government Document 139

        Website 139

        Videorecording 139

        Footnote Reference to a Previously Cited Work 139

        Appendix D: Bibliography Formatting 141

        Book 141

        Article 141

        Essay (Chapter) 141

        Dissertation 141

        Sample Bibliography 142

        Appendix E: Commonly Used Abbreviations 144

        Suggestions for Further Reading 146

        Index 148

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