Ancient Studies

Search and Research

Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose.

--Zora Neale Hurston

Three steps to a research paper

① Conducting research (reading!)② Understanding and evaluating the results

of your research③ Writing the paper with accurate

documentation  

A question should guide your research. 

For example, if your broad topic is Persian religion, your question might be "How did Persians worship the god Ahura Mazda?"

 

The Guiding Question

The question will help narrow your topic and give a direction and scope to your research.

 Another example: If your initial topic is Egyptian architecture, your question might be "How did the ancient Egyptians build obelisks?"

What to do in the library today Browse sources and enjoy the process of

discovery. Read a paragraph or two of a source—if you want to keep reading, that’s a good sign, and you should add the source to your WORKING BIBLIOGRAPHY, which is a simple list of sources you might want to use later for your paper. (Don’t worry about MLA style on your WORKING BIBLIOGRAPHY—book/article title and author, or web page url is fine.)

Where to look?Consult the library catalog and stacks.Online, explore the links on the Ancient

Studies web page.See if the Ancient and Medieval History

(Facts on File) database (link on Library web page) has anything on your potential topic.

Search key words in Questia.Ask instructors and librarians for help.

More optionsBrowse magazines such as Archaeology

Browse Ways of the World

In the nonfiction stacks, browse these shelves: 901--Civilization913--Archaeology915-916--India, Israel, Egypt, etc.930--Ancient History/Archaeology932--Egypt935--Sumer, Babylon, etc.950--Asia960--Africa970--Mayan, Native American, etc.

Next stepE-mail (subject heading: research) your topic choice and guiding question to Mr. Gardner before Monday, March 26. The question could change as you research, but compose one, even if it is rough, to get started.

To summarize:

Browse as many sources as you can (print and electronic).

Keep a list of the best sources so you can return to them later.

Email your guiding question and proposed topic to Mr. Gardner before Monday.