Due April 3, 2023

On Monday, April 3, students will submit two research journal entries (2-3 pp. each or 500 to 1,000 words each), posted PRIVATE at the course website, detailing their efforts to find relevant sources for an investigation into one of the figures highlighted on the biography project list.  The first entry should focus on the search for primary sources at local archives (Dickinson, CCHS, or AHEC) and within online databases.  The second journal entry should focus on investigation of secondary sources obtained through library and digital research.  Each entry should include Chicago-style footnotes and a properly formatted Chicago-style bibliography of works consulted (at least six sources per entry).  All entries should include at least 2 to 3 images, properly captioned and credited.  Students may also choose to embed short instructional videos where relevant. Entries will be graded on research effort, depth of analysis and quality of prose. Late research journals will be penalized up to 5 points each day.

Handout –204 Blog Posting Instructions

Student models

These are fine examples of student research journal entries but please note that the parameters of previous assignments were different than the 2023 edition.

Special updates for secondary source research

  • QUALITY.  Make sure to illustrate your understanding of the comparative value of different types of secondary sources.  Only list high quality secondary sources, with preference for academic monographs and articles.
  • LIBARY CATALOG.  The most important source for monographs in this assignment will invariably be the online library catalog interface.  Students should take special care to use the Advanced Search features and the hypertext links embedded in the Catalog Record.  Google Books is also an acceptable search tool to utilize here, but you must indicate in the journal entry whether or not you were able to access the full text of the source.
  • JSTOR.  The most important source for journal articles in this assignment should be the JSTOR database available through the College Library database finder.  There are several other databases which include potentially relevant articles or essays for use as context, but JSTOR is likely to be the most productive single collection.
  • AMERICA: HISTORY AND LIFE.  The second most useful database source for journal articles in this assignment will be the AHL database available through the College Library database finder.
  • REFERENCE WORK.  Yet don’t forget about tertiary or reference sources such as American National Biography Online or various encyclopedias.  But don’t cite Wikipedia unless there is a good argument for using it.

Student Models to Consider (note:  formatted here as annotated bibliographies;  students in 20023 will be producing narrative research journal posts instead –but the goal is the same)

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.
  • Prof. Pinsker is available for consultation and for review of full or partial drafts until Friday afternoon, March 31.  Students might also seek feedback from Writing Center tutors, but for this assignment, students should feel free to consult (and acknowledge) archivists and librarians at the college or CCHS and also the House Divided interns:
    • Forbes:  forbess@dickinson.edu
    • Charlotte Goodman:  goodmach@dickinson.edu
    • Jordan Schucker: schuckej@dickinson.edu
  • These journal entries require BOTH Chicago-style footnotes and a Chicago-style bibliography.  Keep footnotes limited but (as always) make sure that you are formatting the footnotes correctly.  At the bottom of each entry, also append a bibliography of at least six consulted sources, formatted in Chicago-style bibliography format (not footnote style). For further guidance, see the library’s Chicago-style guide, using both footnote and bibliography examples.  And here is the special Archives guide to citing its sources.
  • 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]

Dickinson College Histories

BLACK CARLISLE

Past Perfect video