Secondary Sources

What historians write…

Definitions A secondary source is a work that

interprets or analyzes an historical event or phenomenon.

Secondary sources are accounts of the past created by people writing about events sometime after they happened.

Characteristics of research in the humanities Scholars tend to work alone Scholars tend to prefer a more individual

approach Original text is key to humanistic study Less of a progressive acculumlation of

facts than in sciences Emphasis on interpretative validity of

research The book is the predominate vehicle for

scholarly communication

Formats Dissertations Conference papers

Formats Books

Formats Journal articles

Publication Cycle

Time Cycle

Knowledge Cycle

Develop & Discuss Ideas

Report Research

Publish Research

PopularizeResearch

Generalize &Formalize

Time Cycle

Knowledge Cycle

Develop & Discuss Ideas

Report Research

Publish Research

PopularizeResearch

Generalize &Formalize

Publications Cycle

Email, listservs,letters

Dissertations, conference papers

Scholarly books and journal articles

Magazine articles, popular history books

Encyclopedias, text books

Time Cycle

Knowledge Cycle

Develop & Discuss Ideas

Report Research

Publish Research

PopularizeResearch

Generalize &Formalize

Publications Cycle

Email, listservs,letters

Dissertations, conference papers

Scholarly books and journal articles

Magazine articles, popular history books

Encyclopedias, text books

Access Cycle

Invisible college

Dissertation Abstracts

UW Libraries Catalog, indexes: AHL, HA

Indexes: Expanded Academic Index, Research Library; UW Libraries Catalog

UW Libraries Catalog, guides to history research