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ISLAUB ASSIGNMENTS/RESOURCES:

    World History Research Sources

Databases to search first:


If you can't find it there or you need more, try:

 

Reference books

Before you look in Athena, check the reference books that have been reserved for this project to see if you can find a good introduction to your topic. There are many subject encyclopedias on the cart and in the reference section of the library that deal specifically with recent world history or a specific historical subjects, such as Genocide.

Searching for books

Search for books by entering your search term(s) into the library catalog’s (Athena’s) search screen.  Your success will depend on how well you choose the terms that you enter. You may find information simply by typing in your topic, but usually you will need to try some other search terms. For example, for information about Fidel Castro, you should enter: Castro, Fidel because that’s how proper names are indexed in Athena. For information on the fall of the Berlin Wall, you might enter Berlin Wall.  But you should also try searching with combinations of other words that will give you information on the same topic, like Communism and History.

Use these terms to search for books on your topic. Note their names and call numbers. A call number is a letter and number code assigned to a book to indicate its location in the library. Use the call numbers to locate the books on the shelves. Important: Once you locate one book on your topic, look for others near it that may also be useful! 

As you start reading about your subject, you will discover more terms to use to find information. These can be helpful when you are ready to start searching on the internet, where narrowing down your search may help you get better results. For example, for information about the establishment of the state of Israel you could try the terms Israel and Middle East. But you would soon learn that the term Arab- Israeli conflict is also a good term to use when researching this subject.

    AP US History – Advanced Research Resources

  • History Reference Center
    “features full text for more than 2,000 reference, encyclopedias and non-fiction books.  Also includes full text for leading history periodicals including American Heritage, American Historical Review, American History, Foreign Affairs, History Review, Journal of American History, Military History, North Carolina Historical Review, Wild West, World War II.  Contains historical documents; biographies of historical figures; historical photos and maps; and more than 80 hours of historical video.”
     
  • American Memory Collection
    “provides access through the Internet to written and spoken words, sound recordings, still and moving images, prints, maps, and sheet music that document the American experience. It is a digital record of American history and creativity”
     
  • Academic OneFile
    “the premier source for peer-reviewed, full-text articles from the world's leading journals and reference sources.”
     
  • American Heritage Magazine
    A history publication with issues dating back to 1954 maintained in the reference section of the Conard Library.  REF 973.AME

     Supreme Court Decisions

Try these sites for Supreme Court decisions. Search print sources for 
  information about the cases, the court and other related topics.