3.3.2 Collecting secondary sources

• Understanding the research question and defining key themes is the first step in collecting relevant secondary sources
• Carefully reading and analyzing the research question helps identify its central concepts.
• Breaking down the research question into its component parts helps focus on specific areas
• Defining key themes helps organize research and structure essays.
• Brainstorming key search terms is the first step in identifying relevant secondary sources
• Match the online database with its purpose:

  JSTOR ↔️ Access to scholarly articles

  ProQuest ↔️ Research database with diverse sources

  Google Scholar ↔️ Search engine for academic literature
• Scholarly journals provide peer-reviewed articles relevant to historical research.
• Online databases such as JSTOR, ProQuest, and Google Scholar are used to find relevant secondary sources
• Steps to evaluate the credibility of a secondary source:

  1️⃣ Assess the author's expertise

  2️⃣ Check the publication source

  3️⃣ Verify accurate referencing

  4️⃣ Confirm relevance to research question

  5️⃣ Ensure information is current
• Bias in a secondary source can be identified by examining the author's perspective and use of language.
• Evaluating both credibility and bias ensures the use of secondary sources avoids misleading conclusions
• Taking organized notes from secondary sources helps summarize key points and track source details.
• Match the note-taking method with its description:

  Linear Notes ↔️ Sequential notes in paragraphs

  Outlines ↔️ Hierarchical structure with main points

  Mind Maps ↔️ Visual diagram connecting concepts
• Steps for taking organized notes from secondary sources:

  1️⃣ Identify key information

  2️⃣ Use a consistent method

  3️⃣ Record source details
• Cornell Notes divide the paper into sections for notes, summaries, and review.
• Mind maps are visual diagrams used for connecting ideas and defining key themes
• When taking notes, it is important to use a consistent method
• What information should be recorded when citing a secondary source?

  Author, title, date, page numbers
• Match the note-taking method with its description:

  Cornell Notes ↔️ Divides paper into sections for notes, summaries, and review

  Mind Maps ↔️ Visual representation of information using circles and branches

  Outline ↔️ Hierarchical organization of information
• Cornell Notes are best used for connecting ideas and themes

  False
• When taking notes, it is important to identify the main arguments
• Mind maps are suitable for structuring large amounts of data

  False
• Why is it crucial to record source details when taking notes?

  For accurate citations
• Steps to understand a research question and define key themes:

  1️⃣ Analyze the research question

  2️⃣ Identify key concepts

  3️⃣ Break down the question

  4️⃣ Formulate a research plan

  5️⃣ Define key themes
• When identifying secondary sources, you should brain storm key search terms
• Scholarly journals always provide unbiased research

  False
• What is bias in the context of secondary sources?

  A particular perspective
• A bibliography is an organized list of sources
• Match the citation format with its typical use case:

  MLA ↔️ Humanities research papers

  APA ↔️ Social sciences research papers

  Chicago ↔️ History and law research papers