Name: _________________________________________________

Source Scavenger Hunt:

Building an Archive

Two of the hardest things about independent research are learning how to effectively search for information on your
research topic, and learning to think creatively about where you might find the information you need. To that end, this
assignment is designed to help you jump-start your research by getting you to identify potential primary and secondary
resources. You do not have to read the entirety of each of the sources you find at this pointyou only need to become
familiar with whats out there. Analysis of the sources will come later.

Thinking about Search Terms

First, write your chosen prompt here for your paper:

Next, identify at least THREE key terms or phrases that you wish to talk about to answer the prompt:

1. ____________________________________________________________________

2. ____________________________________________________________________

3. ____________________________________________________________________

Then, for each key word or phrase, brainstorm at least FIVE related terms or ideas and write them in the chart below.
Think about synonyms, or descriptors which are more specific or more general than the one youre already using. (Ex: if
your original term was women, you might think about adding gender as a broader way of thinking about the term, and
suffragettes as a more specific topic.)

Term 1: Term 2: Term 3:

At least
FIVE related
terms, ideas,
and
synonyms
for each
term.
Looking for Sources

The first thing you should know is that not all research can be done through a regular Google search. In fact, most really
good research is going to require you to use specialized databases like JSTOR or Google Scholar at the very leastand
you might need to even (gasp!) go to the library in order to find print resources. Research takes effort. If youre lazy in
your source work, your final paper is unlikely to be very good.

You will need to find both primary and secondary sources for this activity. Remember, a primary source is a document,
resource, technology, or work of art created during the period which is subject of study. A secondary source is any
resource, document, or work of art created about the period, but not during the period.

For each source you identify, please write the full and correct MLA-style citation. If you need help figuring out how to
cite a source, please check the Purdue OWL website.

Primary Sources

Directions: Identify at least two sources and create full MLA citations for them. Explain what the source tells you thats
relevant to your topic. You will find that not all types of sources will make sense for all research projects. For example,
its unlikely that youll find a contemporaneous photograph of republican Rome, since cameras wouldnt be in use for
another 1800-odd yearsbut you might find plenty of sources dealing with sculpture or laws.

Types of Sources
A diary, travelogue, A contemporaneous An official documentpolitical A document from a digital
memoir, letter, or other newspaper, magazine, speech, law, court decision, tax archive collection which has
first-person source. or broadsheet. record, military report, treaty, material on your subject
execution order, etc.
A source from material An architectural source A multimedia sourcea A visual or artistic source--
culture (stuff people housing, monumental contemporaneous recording of a paintings, photograph, sculpture,
made)technology, architecture, place of radio broadcast, music, television archaeological records, floor
textiles, furniture, etc. worship, etc. broadcast, video recordings of plans, blue prints, diagrams, etc.
events, speeches, etc.

Type of Source Full MLA Citation Source Summary

Secondary Sources

Directions: Identify one source for THREE of the types of secondary sources described below. These sources should help
you get a general sense of chronology, cause and effect, and the potential debates surrounding the historical events or
circumstances of your topic. While your textbooks may be useful as additional sources and you should certainly use them
in writing your final paper, they may NOT be included here as your secondary sources. Find something different.

Type of Source Full MLA Citation Source Summary

A scholarly
article
published in a
peer-reviewed
academic
journal. (Youll
want to use
JSTOR for
this.)

A credible
historical book
on your topic.

A multimedia
secondary
source on your
topic--
documentary
video, podcast,
radio broadcast,
television
program, etc.

A quantitative
sourcea
chart, a map, a
graph, data
table, etc.