Synopses & Reviews
An essential writing, reading, and research tool for all history students, A Pocket Guide to Writing in History offers a best-selling combination of concise yet comprehensive advice in a portable and accessible format. This quick-reference guide provides a practical introduction to typical history assignments, exercising critical reading skills, evaluating and documenting sources, writing effective history papers, conducting research, and avoiding plagiarism. Building on its time-tested approach, the seventh edition offers expanded, hands-on guidance for writing and researching in the digital age, and additional coverage on working with primary and secondary sources.
About the Author
MARY LYNN RAMPOLLA (Ph.D., University of Toronto) is associate professor of history at Trinity Washington University in Washington, D.C. Her scholarly work focuses on medieval and early modern Europe, and her publications include articles in Medieval and Renaissance Texts and Studies and entries in the Dictionary of the Middle Ages. She is active in the fields of history and composition.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction: Why Study History? Historical questions How this manual can help you 2. Working with Sources Identifying historical sources Primary sources Secondary sources Primary or secondary? The changing status of a source Uses of primary and secondary sources Evaluating sources Evaluating primary sources Tips for Writers: Questions for Evaluating Text-Based Primary Sources Tips for Writers: Questions for Evaluating Nonwritten Primary Sources Evaluating secondary sources Tips for Writers: Questions for Evaluating Secondary Sources Evaluating online resources Questions for Evaluating Websites 3. Approaching Typical Assignments in History Reading actively in history Tips for Writers: Writing as You Read Writing about reading Summaries Annotated bibliographies Using primary sources Single-source analysis Comparing primary sources Tips for Writers: Writing a Comparative Essay Secondary Sources: Typical Writing Assignments Critiques and book reviews Historiographic essays Film reviews Taking history exams Preparing for an exam Answering identification questions Taking an essay exam 4. Writing History Papers Approaching a history assignment Thinking like a historian Developing a thesis Constructing an argument Tips for Writers: Constructing a Thesis Supporting your thesis Responding to counterevidence and anticipating opposing viewpoints Organizing your paper Drafting an introduction Writing clear and connected paragraphs Writing an effective conclusion Revising for content and organization Tips for Writers: Revising for Content and Organization Editing for style and grammar Choosing appropriate language Choosing the appropriate tense Using active voice Knowing when to use the pronouns I, me, and you 5. Writing a Research Paper Moving from topic to research question Choosing a topic Focusing on a research question Developing a research plan Conducting research Consulting human resources Using the library's online catalog Using print and electronic reference sources Locating secondary sources: using print and electronic periodical databases Tips for Writers: Electronic Databases Finding Internet sources Distinguishing among electronic sources Taking effective research notes Developing a working thesis Making an outline Revising and editing your paper 6. Plagiarism: What It Is and How to Avoid It What is plagiarism? Avoiding plagiarism Citing sources to avoid plagiarism Paraphrasing to avoid plagiarism Tips for Writers: Avoiding Plagiarism Downloading Internet sources carefully to avoid plagiarism Plagiarism and the Internet 7. Quoting and Documenting Sources Using quotations When to quote How to quote Documenting sources Footnotes and endnotes Bibliography Documenting nonwritten materials Documentation models Sample pages from a student research paper