Roslyn High School Library

Roslyn High School Library

AP U.S. History - DBQ Research Project

Mr. Davis & Mr. Katovitz – Spring 2017

Research Strategy & Pathfinder

Research is the careful, systematic, patient investigation in a field of knowledge to discover or establish facts or principles. Examine allsources thatmay fit your topic, time period, or theme, until you collect all of the documents and information to write your DBQ response.

1. BOOKS

The library has prepared a reserved collection of books that are(1)either entirely composed of primary source documents on particular eras, themes or subjects in American history or(2) secondary sources – history books, that include background information and primary source materials, including photos, speeches, letters, maps, etc. as illustrations of the historical eras under discussion.

As this assignment caninclude all of American history,it is not possible to reserveall US history books on a cart. Please note the following:

A. Our books that are specifically primary source collections are marked with a white sticker near the call number that says U.S. History Primary Sources.

B. Use the OPAC to locate other material, and browse the shelves for books. Call numbers for U.S. history are 973 to 973.999, and are located along back wall of the stacks. Social, economic and political history can be found in the 300’s. TheHS Library catalog can be reached though the Library website OPAC link. Use the public library catalog ALISCAT to identify materials in the Bryant Library/Nassau public library system.

C. We do not put REFERENCE book sets on the reserve carts. They are among the MOST ESSENTIAL and BEST materials to use, so do not overlook them. See the call numbers provided to locate titles listed below

Dictionary of American History. Scribner, 2003. REF/973.02/DIC

Alphabetically arranged information about the facts, events, trends, and policies of American history, includes a selection of primary documents, photographs, maps, and cross-references in 10 volumes.

Encyclopedia of American History. Facts on File, 2003. REF/973.03/ENC

Alphabetized entries on American history in ten chronologically arranged time periods spanning the late fifteenth century to the early twenty-first; includes documents.

Annals of America. REF/973.19/ANN * EXTENSIVE PRIMARY SOURCES (also as database through Bryant)

Extensive collection of primary documentsin 22 volumes, arranged by date, relating to American history, from 1493-2001.

Milestone Documents in American History. Salem Press, 2008. REF/973.19/MIL * EXTENSIVE PRIMARY SOURCES

Primary sources arranged by date in 4 volumes.

American Decades Primary Sources. Gale. REF/973.91/AME * EXTENSIVE PRIMARY SOURCES

Contains primary sources on 20th centuryand 2000-2009, American history and culture, one volume per decade.

American Decades. Gale. REF/973.9221/AME

Explores American life and world eventsduring each decade of the 20th century, and 2000-2009, one volume per decade.

D.As the entire 11th grade is working on US history projects at this time,the library staff may keep other materials in the library and not allow circulation. Please plan to do research in the library.

Books will remain on reserve until the assignment is due. Please take notes from the books working in the library and photocopy critical pages you may need. Write down all information you will need for your bibliography when you are using each book. Remember to use book indexes (in the back) and or table of contents to locate information. NEVER fold pages or write in the books, scrap paper will be supplied as needed.

For Authoritative Electronic Searching

BEGIN WITH YOUR HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY WEBSITE

2. Roslyn High School - US History Subscription Databases(includes primary sources)

Log on is automatic from school – user name & password is for remote access.

►Begin at HS Library home page:

►Select Subscription Databases(left menu)

►Navigate to the lower part of the page to select RHS databases

ABC-CLIO Social Studies Databases (User Name: rhslibrary Password: bulldogs)
Facts on File Issues in American History (User Name: Roslyn Password: facts)
Opposing viewpoints in Context (Gale) (mid page – no log in – geolocation in NYS)

Search your subjects and select results for primary documents or secondary background information.

Databases provide citation for all articles.

3. Bryant Library - US History Subscription Databases (includes periodicals and eBooks)

Bryant library card # required for log in. Use your bar code or guest number 21490000000008, 21490000000009

►Begin at HS Library home page:

►Select Subscription Databases (left menu)

►Select Bryant Library # 1 Main Database Page

►Select electronic resources by title(listed in alphabetical order)

Annals of American History (eBook version of multi-volume print text in library)
U.S. History in Context (searchesGale History ebooks & related references)
Opposing viewpoints in Context (Gale)
Historic New York Times 1851-2013 (Proquest Historical Newspapers)

(this is the ONLY way to access NYT historic papers; newspaper articles are primary sources)

4. EBOOKS

► Begin at HS Library home page (left menu) ►select ebooks ►Salem Press

Password: bulldogs - to access many of our physical reference books with primary sources

Bryant Library history eBook collections ►Begin at HS Library home page:

► Select Subscription Databases ►Select Bryant Library # 2 Gale Database Page

►eBooks on left ► history ►select book titles and navigate

These are Gale publications – many of which RHS Library owns. Browse the titles and gain entry to the ebooks. You can use them online at any time. You can also access Gale databases on the right from this location.

5. Websites – for primary and secondary historic and cultural links.

and FIND THIS PATHFINDER ONLINE

►Begin at HS Library home page:

►SelectClass Materials & Library (left menu) – Social Studies

►Select your assignment resources

6. CITATION ASSISTANCE

You can create a perfectly formatted Works Cited page using the powerful tools now available to you. Use NoodleTools or EasyBib to add citations to your project page and print.

►Begin at HS Library home page:

►Select How Do I Cite Sources(left menu)

►Select NoodleTools (see information sheet to create account and use the program)

For this project – select Advanced level citation formatting

Use library generated white pamphlet on using MLA 8th edition to format citations for your sources

Databases provide accurate citations for articles viewed – they can be copied and pasted into NoodleTools or EasyBib.
Select MLA 8th ed. when you have choice. Where no choice is offered – assume MLA is used.

7. DISPOSITION - how you approach the task and carry it out

This is a paper for a college (AP) class. It is intended to challenge your mind and develop sophisticated research & analysis skills.

1. Begin immediately to give yourself proper time to research and analyze your documents. You will need the time allotted to you by your teacher to successfully complete this assignment. Ask for assistance as needed. We can point you in the right direction, demonstrate a particular skill and check your citations.

2. RHS Library has a great collection of books and targeted databases for this assignment. Give yourself a few periods in the library and time online with databases, andyou will uncover most of what you need.

3. The Internetis not great for random academic research. Sitting down at Google with no plan is like pulling any set of books off a shelf in the library expecting that what falls in your hand is the right thing. Use the databases and websites discussed.

4. Your teachers make the time for the librarian to address your class to inform you about the resources to use for your research. The onus is on YOU to examine them. Use the sheet to remind yourself of today’s lecture. I will answer questions when you have a working knowledge of your topic and can identify what you have already examined.

5. Library closing hours can change with absences and meetings beyond our control. Don’t count on the library being available for last minute work.

6. Keep a working bibliography,correctly formattedand alphabetized as you use books, databases and websites. It takes quite some time to create this from scratch at theend. This is a crucial part of your final product. Use EasyBib or Noodle Tools to insure a perfectly formatted Works Cited Page.

There is no rewardfor staying up all night to finish on the last day.

DO IT now, complete it a few days early and create the best product you can.

Prepared by Mrs. Leon 2/2017