The first place most students go to “research” a paper or essay is Google. Typing in a few key words or phrases yields a number of articles and since students generally procrastinate, gathering information results in sloppy research that ultimately impacts the paper’s grade. Internet sources can be useful, but students must learn to compare and contrast sources in order to obtain first-rate references.
Sources to Avoid in History Paper Writing
Many instructors use their syllabi and research paper instructions to caution students regarding certain internet sources. Wikipedia usually leads the list of sources to avoid for several reasons. Wikipedia articles can be written and edited by anyone; there are no writer profiles. This can result in either faulty information or incomplete information. Additionally, Wikipedia is an on-line encyclopedia, presenting facts but rarely analysis.
Wikipedia, however, does have its uses. Wikipedia articles include references and links to sources that often represent original source documents, government documents, or highly reputable studies. Additionally, Wikipedia’s maps and graphs are helpful and clearly presented.
Other dubious sources include the many k-12 sites specifically designed for high school students. These sites generally give basic information but lack depth and analysis. Like Wikipedia, there are no writer profiles. On-line articles that are summaries of other general on-line sources might be fun to read, but they are seldom accepted as reliable sources in formal paper writing.
Importance of Writer Profiles
Some of the most widely read history books were written by men and women that never received a graduate degree in history. Barbara Tuchman is an example. Although her books were written for a mass audience, her research was excellent. Historian Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. did not hold a PhD but his life experiences in government more than qualified him to write books on American History.
A good rule of thumb is not to use a source if there is no author indicated. If an author’s name is given, it is important to read the writer profile. What qualifies the writer to comment on a particular aspect of history? Does the writer profile signal a degree of authority in terms of the presented material? What references or sources were used in the article? At the same time, an historian with expertise in a particular area writing in American Heritage, for example, may not need to list references. The use of good references, however, adds credibility to any history source.
As students move to higher levels of historical studies, instructors expect to see a greater degree of in-depth research utilizing scholarly studies and articles written by professors specializing in particular, often very specific, periods in history. These sources are generally found in data bases containing journal articles like JSTOR.
Helpful Internet Sources
An above-average history paper or essay benefits from the following types of internet sites:
- Original source documents
- Government and university websites
- Oral histories
- E-books
- Quality data bases that include scholarly journals
- Newspaper and magazine archives
- Historical societies
- Articles written by authoritative writers
On-line sources should always be balanced by the use of books, particularly those published by university presses. Some instructors are very restrictive in their research paper instructions so it always helps to know before going to Google what is acceptable and what isn’t.
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