Due Feb 10 // March 3 // March 31 // April 14, 2025

Students will submit four (4) research journal entries (2-4 pages each or about 500 to 1,000 words per entry), posted PRIVATE at the course website.  These narrative essays will detail efforts to meet assigned research tasks.  Each journal entry should include Chicago-style footnotes and 2 to 3 images, properly captioned and credited.  Entries will be graded on research effort, depth of analysis and quality of prose. Late entries will be penalized up to 5 points each day.

Student models

These are fine examples of student research journal entries but please note that the parameters of previous assignments were different than the 2025 edition.

Footnote Guidance

See the models below as well as this methods handout on How to Use Footnotes and consult as needed with the library’s Chicago-style guide, but make sure to use sample footnote models for formatting and NOT bibliography examples. And here is the Archives citation guide.

  • SAMPLE REVIEW FOOTNOTE (with modified Chicago-style guidelines for online footnotes)

[1] Matthew Pinsker, review of The Intimate World of Abraham Lincoln by C.A. Tripp, Journal of American History 92,  no. 4 (March 2006): 1442-3 [JSTOR].

[2] Pinsker, review of Intimate World, 1443.

Lincoln and son

Lincoln with son Tad, 1865 (Library of Congress)

Credit and Caption Guidance

  • Images do not require footnotes, but they should have brief descriptive captions (about 2 to 3 words, perhaps with a date) and credits (just the simple name of the institutional or individual source, though –if possible– with a direct link to the place online where you found the image).
  • Credit yourself if you take the image (while researching, for example)
  • Also remember to provide 2 to 3 words of descriptive text in the ALT TEXT box within the Image Edit function to assist those who are visually impaired

Entry #1:  Book Reviews (Monday Feb. 10 by 5pm)

The first entry will describe book reviews from an academic historical journal provided by Prof. Pinsker.

  • Prof. Pinsker will distribute your journal issue in class on Thursday, Jan. 30
  • You will be registered at the site as an author; you can work on your post in your own word-processing software or directly in WordPress but whenever you put the material into the post, make sure to follow instructions and set the status as PRIVATE.
  • The objective of this assignment is to describe book reviews from your journal issue (and note that you may also include digital and other media reviews but that regardless you don’t have to cover every single entry).  Look for patterns so that you can describe for fellow students what to expect from the review section of an academic historical journal.  Seek out insights about historical thinking or historiography and feel free to make connections to the Schrag book (which you should cite with footnotes).
  • You may use first person and proceed to narrate a “story” about your discoveries, but still aim for an organized post that has at least one key insight to highlight.
  • Your journal issue will also likely be available through JSTOR or another of the library’s subscription databases.  You may find it useful to use the digital version in addition to the print copy (which you may keep).  Using the digital version, for example, would allow you to quantify some insights or create word clouds or other visualizations that might help bring your key insights to life for other students.
  • Make sure to include Chicago-style footnotes (see below for further instructions) and at least 2 to 3 images (with captions, credits, and ALT TEXT).  These citation and image efforts won’t be graded at this time, but consider them as practice for later in the semester when they will be.
  • This entry will be graded on research effort, depth of analysis and quality of prose.  Post private at the course site by 5pm on Feb. 10 (with a grace period of a few hours); only notify Prof. Pinsker if you are going to be submitting on Feb. 11 or later and then expect a penalty of up to 5 points per day depending on circumstances.

Entry #2:  Wayside Markers (Monday, March 3 by 5pm)

The second entry will analyze the effectiveness of one or more historic wayside markers either on campus or in Carlisle.

 

  • Try to seek out markers that might relate to possible subjects for your final biography project.  In some cases, these might involve markers inside buildings (like the James Buchanan portrait at the library), but in most cases, your work should be conducted outdoors.
  • You will continue to post as an author in WordPress; just remember to set the status as PRIVATE.
  • The objective of this assignment is to describe the purpose and impact of historical wayside markers out in the public square.  Consider the intentions of the creators and their potential impact on different types of audiences.   You may need to conduct some supporting research to help guide your analysis, which –of course– you should cite with footnotes as appropriate.  And always consider seeking out insights about historical thinking or public history and feel free to make connections to the Schrag book (which you should also cite with footnotes).
  • You may use first person and proceed to narrate a “story” about your discoveries, but still aim for an organized post that has at least one key insight to highlight.
  • Make sure to include Chicago-style footnotes and at least 2 to 3 images (with captions, credits, and ALT TEXT).  These citation and image efforts still won’t be graded yet, but consider them as practice for later in the semester when they will be.
  • This entry will be graded on research effort, depth of analysis and quality of prose.  Post private at the course site by 5pm on Monday, March 3 (with a grace period of a few hours); only notify Prof. Pinsker if you are going to be submitting on March 4 or later and then expect a penalty of up to 5 points per day depending on circumstances.

Entry #3:  Ancestry.com or newspaper database (Monday, March 31 by 5pm)

For the third entry students will use either Ancestry.com or one of the library’s historical newspaper databases (or both) to conduct targeted research on a possible subject for their final project.

  • Try to use this assignment to help finalize your decision about a subject for your biographical project.
  • You will continue to post as an author in WordPress; just remember to set the status as PRIVATE.
  • The objective of this assignment is to develop some thoughtful insights or lessons for fellow students about best practices and pitfalls to avoid while using digital research for biographical purposes –either with Ancestry.com or one of the library’s historical newspaper databases (or both).
  • You can access these subscription databases via the library Database Finder.  Determining which database is best suited for this assignment, however, depends heavily on which subject you choose to pursue.  But regardless, see what kinds of records you can examine and take special note of difficulties or challenges in searching for them.  In Ancestry, even for obscure figures, you should be able to find multiple census entries (both transcribed and in facsimile) as well as other types of miscellaneous records, including even newspaper sources.  In designated newspaper databases, such as Historical Newspapers (ProQuest), you should be able to find multiple articles that mention or feature your subject, especially if he or she is prominent, including most notably obituaries.  But it all depends on whom you choose.
  • Remember that RE-search requires moving back and forth in your sources.  When you find new details (such as in an obituary), then you might have to go back and research those terms or facts in a database or source that you had previously examined.  The process is not linear or progressive but can be messy and uncertain –something you need to convey to your student audience.
  • Here are some additional models to consider for this assignment:
  • You may use first person and proceed to narrate a “story” about your discoveries, but still aim for an organized post that has at least one key insight to highlight.
  • Make sure to include Chicago-style footnotes and at least 2 to 3 images (with captions, credits, and ALT TEXT).  Consider using Prof. Pinsker’s style modifcation for database notes.
    • Maysville (KY) Eagle excerpted in “The Confiscation Act:  A Kentucky Court Pronounces it Unconstitutional,” New York Times, November 23, 1862 [PROQUEST].
  • These citation and image efforts will be considered as part of your grade.
  • This entry will be graded on research effort, depth of analysis and quality of prose.  Post private at the course site by 5pm on Monday, March 31 (with a grace period of a few hours); only notify Prof. Pinsker if you are going to be submitting on April 1 or later and then expect a penalty of up to 5 points per day depending on circumstances.

Entry #4:  Archival Research (Monday, April 14 by 5pm)

The final journal entry  must describe an archival research trip to the College Archives or elsewhere conducted for the biography project.

 

 

Additional Guidelines

  • Unlike other writing assignments for this course, research journal entries are personal and can use first-person pronouns effectively.  They are also more informal and while they need clear openings and some structure, they do not require ordinary interpretive thesis statements. Always remember that you are trying to write a narrative about your own research journey –with all of its unexpected turns and occasional dead ends– in a manner that might help inspire future students to persevere in their efforts.
  • These journal entries require Chicago-style footnotes.  Keep footnotes limited but (as always) make sure that you are formatting the footnotes correctly. See the models below as well as this methods handout on How to Use Footnotes and consult as needed with the library’s Chicago-style guide, but make sure to use sample footnote models for formatting and NOT bibliography examples. And here is the Archives citation guide.
  • Don’t underestimate the importance of integrating your quoted evidence with some degree of fluidity.  Awkwardly inserting quotations is one of the hallmarks of mediocre undergraduate essays.  Consult this handout from the methods center for a range of good tips.
  • Also, please guard against plagiarism.  Remember our discussion from the very first day of the semester.  Never write your own words while looking directly at your sources, especially secondary sources –unless you are quoting them.
  • And finally, always remember to proofread your work by printing it out and reading it aloud, slowly. See our methods handout on How to Proofreed [sic]