HIST 111E History of the U.S. 1607-1865

ESSAY #2: Write an essay (minimum 1,200 words) on any topic related to this course.

Here are a few suggestions:

1. Analyze the causes of the Civil War.

2. Describe the difference between urban and rural slave life. Which gave slaves more autonomy?

3. Analyze the causes and effects of the American War of Independence.

4. Analyze the concepts of freedom and liberty as they pertain to different groups of people in Colonial America and later in the United States of America (Women, People of African descent, Native Americans, different religious groups, socioeconomic backgrounds, etc.).

5. Another approved topic.

At least 2 other academic sources and a primary source must be used in addition to the textbook. Double spaced using Turabian, Chicago, or MLA.

Today's Agenda:

• Welcome students <5 mins 
• Review assignment and highlight types of sources required. <5 mins
• Think, pair, share: 5-10 mins 
  • What's an academic (or scholarly) source? What are some examples?
  • What's a primary source? What are some examples?
• Keyword generation activity ~ 10 mins
  • Start worksheet. 5 mins
  • Switch. 5 mins
• Let's search JSTOR! for academic sources ~ 10 mins
  • Go to Advanced Search, "All Content" tab
  • Use your keywords or some combination of them
  • Under "Item Type," select "Articles" & "Books" (or just one of those)
  • Under "Publication Date," select a start and end year (i.e. 2005 and 2025)
  • Under "Journal Filter," select "American Studies"
  • Scroll all the way down and click "Submit Advanced Search."
• Let's search JSTOR! for primary sources ~ 10 mins
  • Go to Advanced Search, "Images" tab
  • Use your keywords or some combination of them
  • Under "Narrows your results," choose appropriate dates for your topic. (For example, 1776 to 1783 for the American Revolution, or 1860 to 1865 for the American Civil War.)
• Library Lab: until 12:15PM.
• Reflection, 12:15-12:20PM.

General advice from your librarian:

• "If at first you don't succeed....try, try again!" Adjust your search parameters and try again. Adjust and try again. This is what we can "iteration" and "reiteration." If you are not successful after several tries, make an appointment with me or your professor.
• Look at the references and bibliographies in your secondary academic sources. An OK source may lead to a better one. One good source often leads to another.
• Secondary sources often refer to primary sources; if you don't know what kind of primary source to look for, a secondary source may be helpful.
• It will probably be most efficient to look for a primary source after finding your secondary sources.