HIS #132: Global History, 1500-Present
Library Assignment
This exercise is designed to prepare you for productive research in the library and on the Web. Carefully read this assignment and make sure you include all the material required in each step.
I. Getting Started
Choose a topic having to do with this class. Your topic should have something to do with one of the three case study countries and be historically part of the last 500 years of history.
1. Briefly describe your topic
II. WorldCat
The WorldCat system is a service that allows you to look up virtually every book held by libraries all over the country. Use this system to search for a single book on your topic. Attach and hand in all required material.
1. Conduct a subject search on your topic.
2. Print out a Bibliographic listing for ONE book found in the WorldCat. (Tip: this service will give you thousands of titles on almost any subject. Be sure to limit your search as much as possible--only books in English, only books written since 1980)
3. Check the "Libraries with this Item" button to see if Plattsburgh's library holds this book.
4. Briefly describe your search and write a short explanation of what WorldCat does and does not do. Also, indicate if Feinberg Library holds the item you located or not.
II. Project MUSE
This search engine that does many of the same things JSTOR does but it provides links to different journals and allows you to view articles that are much more current. Using Project MUSE do the same search that you did above. Attach and hand in all material.
1) Print out the first page from one article from Project MUSE that you think might be useful for your research topic you have chosen.
2) Write a short explanation of how Project MUSE works and what it can and cannot do.
III. Historical Abstracts
This
resource is unique in that it provides lengthy abstracts of the articles you
might be looking for. Using the
Historical Abstracts page, do the same search you did above.
Attach and hand in all material.
1)
Print out
one bibliographical entry from the Historical Abstracts that you think might be
useful for your research on the topic you have chosen.
2)
Write a
short explanation of how the Historical Abstracts page works and what it can and
cannot do.
IV. JSTOR
This search engine provides full-text readings of articles from select journals dating back to their origin (you might be able to get articles that are as much as 100 years old). Using JSTOR do the same search you did above. Do not print out information on an article you found for either Project MUSE or Historical Abstracts. Attach and hand in all material.
1) Print out the first page from one article from JSTOR that you think might be useful for your research topic you have chosen.
2) Write a short explanation of how JSTOR works and what it can and cannot do.
This is the public information collected and distributed by the Central Intelligence Agency. It will give you basic knowledge of a country's geography, population, political system etc. Attach and hand in all required material.
1. Select the country you are studying by going to the county list.
2. Print off the first four pages of the site.
3. Describe in simple terms the size of the country, the current population and the political system as it is described. Also, describe how this site might provide some information that you can use for your research topic (think in broad terms--some topics will work better than others)
VI. Links Pages
As with any major topic, large links sites are cropping up for various countries of the world. The following sites are designed to tell you about the three countries we have been studying for this course. Chose one of the sites and search for a web page that provides information that might be of some use to you (think in broad terms--some topics will work better than others). Attach and hand in all required material.
1. Locate one site (in English) and print off one page from that site.
2. Write a short explanation of what site you found and what information it contained.
VII. News 'Zines
Many newspapers are developing their own web sites. Increasingly form many news sources they only exist on the web, there are no hard copies of this information. Select a site and look around for information on foreign policy questions or news about other countries. Attach and hand in all required material.
Slate A site that includes Liberal and Conservative viewpoints on politics, books, movies and a great deal more.
Drudge Report A mostly Conservative site that exposes government wrongdoing.
Daily Kos A Liberal and very influential political web site
Huffington Post A mostly Liberal and increasingly influential site that includes various articles on the news of the day
Real Clear Politics A mostly Conservative site with articles on the news of the day as well as good polling data on elections throughout the country
1. Choose a 'zine.
2. Find an article on foreign policy or an international issue and print it off (not more than 1 to 3 pages is necessary).
3. Write the name of the 'zine you chose and describe the information found in the article you selected.
VIII. Presidential Candidates
Since we are in a very interesting presidential race you should be aware of the political stances held by the candidates.
1) Select one of the candidates using the links below and then look for their foreign policy sections in their web sites.
2) Print off the first page of their foreign policy section.
3) Briefly examine their platforms on foreign policy and summarize in a few sentences what the candidate believes.