Conducting Research
Conducting Research
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When you start your research, you want to try to find multiple types of sources. Your school or local library is always a great place to start! Some of your research may need to take place online. Even if all your sources are from online, remember that you still need to have a wide variety of source types. Explore this page to learn what sources to try to find and where.
Primary & Secondary Sources
Primary & Secondary Sources
When you start looking for sources, we suggest first trying to find secondary sources on your topic. Secondary sources are ones that are created at a later time from the events or conditions that you are researching, and by someone who did not participate in them or experience them firsthand. Textbooks, biographies, and scholarly books and articles are all examples of secondary sources. Try to find ones created by credible authors, such as professional historians, and whose work reflect thorough research and analysis. Reading secondary materials prepare you to understand and analyze primary sources.
Primary sources are created during the time that you are investigating or by people who experienced the event or conditions firsthand. Primary sources can be written materials, such as letters, speeches, diaries, newspaper articles, eyewitness accounts, oral histories, artifacts, and government or other documents.
Quick Videos To Watch Before Getting Started
Quick Videos To Watch Before Getting Started
How and Where to find Sources?
How and Where to find Sources?
Your school or local library are great places to start your hunt for sources. If you need to conduct your research online, there is a wide variety of online databases and collections to check out. The State Library of N.C. gives free access to many national databases with a State Library of N.C. library card. Don't have a card? Any N.C. resident can apply for one for free online. Click the button below to complete the application, They will send you your library card number so that you can get stared with your online research right away.
Keeping Track of Your Sources
Keeping Track of Your Sources
It is very important to keep track of sources as you find them so that you remember where you found the useful content. It also makes it much easier to create your annotated bibliography. There are many ways to do this. You can handwrite notecards, use an online program such as NoodleTools, or keep notes digitally. If you are looking for a free and easy method, consider using a online doc to track each source. You can easily copy & paste source information into them, organize them in folders on an online drive, and share them with other group members. Need a template? Below is a Google Doc template that you can copy to your Google Drive or download in order to customize to work for you!
Places to Find Sources by Topic Location
Places to Find Sources by Topic Location
Click on boxes below to find for ideas of where to find sources for your topic online.
Quick Digital Research Tip Videos
Quick Digital Research Tip Videos
Check out these videos with more tips to finding sources online. More videos may be added as the contest year continues!
Smart Website Searching
for Sources
Smart Website Searching
for Sources
Smart Searching the
Library of Congress
Smart Searching the
Library of Congress
How to Use Google Books
How to Use Google Books
How to Navigate the
N.C. Digital Collection
How to Navigate the
N.C. Digital Collection
Mining Wikipedia
Mining Wikipedia
Finding Primary Sources in Secondary Sources
Finding Primary Sources in Secondary Sources
Conducting Interviews and Engaging with History Professionals
Conducting Interviews and Engaging with History Professionals
It can be tricky to learn how and when to interview or contact someone for help with research. Learn some tips in the videos below.
Learn the difference between conducting an oral history interview and an interview with an expert and the strengths and weaknesses of each interview type.
Watch this video for tips on interacting with professionals at museums, libraries, and archives that you might contact for help with your NHD project.
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