Course research guide
HIST 1301 - Dr. Tom Clarkin

Problem-Based Learning:
Who Will Perform the Labor on Your Land?

You are a landowner in the Chesapeake Bay region in 1690. Who will perform the labor on your land? This guide provides titles of and links to library resources that can help you make your case for solving this problem. Here's a link to the Search Sheet (Word .doc) if you'd like to modify it, fill it in, and use it as a research diary.

TIP: Are you looking for information on CROPS or FARMS? Go into the netLibrary eBook collection, do a title search for: Daily Life On the Old Colonial Frontier
Browse the Contents under "Anglo-America" for "Farming" -or- View the eBook and click on the SEARCH tab and search for: crops
Also, search for other occurrences of keywords such as: farming, tobacco, economy, labor, indentured, etc.

Have fun with your search, and let me know if you have questions or need help at any time!

I. Define Topic - reference sources in section III. below can help you with this part!

What topic are you researching?

List what you know about your topic -- who, what, when, where, why, and how:

What would you like to find out about your topic? What questions do you have? What are your learning issues?

II. Devise Strategy - create a flexible search plan, list key words/names

If you're researching a particular topic, such as "labor and the colonies", then you need to list as many synonyms and related key words as possible. Use the list of words to create multiple combinations with the word AND in order to have a successful search:

• colonial, colonies, Chesapeake, Virginia, Maryland
• landowner, colonist, planters
• 1690, 17th century, 1600s
• labor, work, economy, economics
• land, farm, crops, agriculture, staples, plantation

So...what's the difference between KEYWORD v. SUBJECT searching?

• Keyword search = to combine key words or for more specific search; finds items that contain your keywords
• Subject search = for broad search or when you know terminology; finds items that are about that topic

TIPS:

• Use symbols such as the * at the end of key words to pick up alternate endings -- econom* = economy, economic, economics, etc.
• Use keyword and subject searching together: start with a keyword search, find an item that's relevant, then look for subject headings within item descriptions and incorporate those subject words into your search strategy.
  

III. Search Sources

A. REFERENCE sources - Looking for background information or facts?

Sources labeled Ref are in print and available at the SAC Library, 2nd floor reference room. You can also check your local library catalog to see if they own a copy. Online databases require a login from off-campus.You can get login info HERE.

B. BOOKS, VIDEOS, other items - Looking for in-depth information?

QuickSearch Books & Media (Catalog)

By: Keyword Title Author Subject Call Number Search for:


• Here are a few subject headings you can use to search in Books & Media (Catalog):
• united states--history--colonial period
• north america--history--colonial period
• united states--politics and government--to 1775
• virginia--history--colonial period
• labor--united states--history
• african americans--history--to 1863
• migrations of nations--history
• indentured servants--virginia
• domestics--united states
• working class--united states--history--17th century
• contract labor--great britain--colonies
• europe--territorial expansion--social aspects
• north america--ethnic relations
• new england--history--colonial period
• united states--social life and customs--to 1775
• tobacco industry -- Chesapeake Bay Region
• Chesapeake Bay Region
  
  
  
• TIP 1: Just copy and paste these into QuickSearch box above and search By Subject.
• TIP 2: How do you find subject headings? Start with a keyword search, find an item that's relevant, look at the Subject(s) in the item's description!
  
  
• netLibrary - do a Keyword search for: colonial period
• How to check out books & eBooks

C. ARTICLES - Looking for current information or need to highlight a specific issue?

Online databases require a login from off-campus.You can get login info HERE.

• America: History and Life
• History Resource Center: U.S.
• JSTOR (history, humanities)
• Project Muse (humanities)
• More...

NOTE: If the full-text of the article isn't available online use the Journal Locator. Just type in the periodical title to see if SAC Library owns a paper copy or if another database offers full-text.

D. FREE WEB SITES

• Classics of American Colonial History - collection of historical documents (books and articles); browse by Subject
• Librarians' Internet Index - collection of evaluated web sites for topics; do a search for: colonial
• Rare Map Collection: Colonial America - from the University of Georgia Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library
• History Buff Online Newspaper Archives - includes scanned images from pages of colonial newspapers
• Virtual Jamestown - product of collaboration between Virginia Tech, the University of Virginia, and the Virginia Center for Digital History at the University of Virginia; includes maps, first hand accounts and letters, labor contracts, and more.
• Colonial America 1600-1775 - K-12 resources for teachers; LOTS of links
• American Memory - from the Library of Congress; browse under Immigration, American Expansion
• American Journeys - Eyewitness accounts of Early American exploration and settlement
• Africans in America - PBS
• SAC Library Web Guide: U.S. History - by Ralph Domas, SAC Librarian

IV. Evaluate and Cite your sources