Going to the Sources : A Guide to Historical Research and Writing

The fifth edition of Going to the Sources maintains its sterling reputation as one of the most accessible and student-friendly introductions to historiography. This text, accessible to students at the community college, undergraduate, and, in some cases even beginning graduate school level, outlines the fundamental methods utilized in the research and writing of history. The new edition features a wealth of updates and enhancements, along with the addition of a new chapter addressing the use of film and other non-textual sources by historians—for example, how a film like D. W. Griffith's The Birth of a Nation can influence perceptions of history. Other chapters maintain a focus on the basics of the historian's craft, including selecting and refining a topic; and locating and utilizing the necessary books, articles, essays, and online sources. Students are shown how to engage effectively in critical reading, interpreting, note-taking, writing, and revising. The creation of a historiographical essay and a longer research paper are discussed in detail. Methodological matters are interwoven with a discussion of the dynamic nature of history, in which the concept of revisionism is central and reveals that new interpretations of the past are an essential corollary to changing social, political, economic, and cultural structures. With a wealth of updates, revisions, and enhancements, Going to the Sources is a student's most valuable “go-to” source for research and historical writing.