Research Help
Reading Context
Research in political science often requires an analysis of specific documents, comparing coverage of events, and understanding history in context. This page includes resources for finding, analyzing, and incorporating primary sources into your project.
Finding primary sources.
When searching the library catalog, this is how to discover individual materials and topical collections of documents. For best results, limit Content Type to Non Fiction.
ArchiveGrid is an aggregated database of archives. Search multiple archival and museum libraries at once through their site.
Interpret historical materials and determine which types of sources are best suited to your project
Writing in history has some differences from the analytical style that is standard in political science. If using primary sources in your research and performing historical analysis, there are key elements to consider. When writing for the audience that is unfamiliar with your topic, it is necessary to provide adequate context for the period. In addition, the project should be able to explain changes over time. For the writing style, it should also incorporate narrative elements.