The Research Process: Books

Books usually provide in-depth coverage or summarized knowledge of a subject. 

Use a book:

• when looking for lots of information on a topic
• to put your topic in context with other important issues
• to find historical information
• to find summaries of research to support an argument
• to explore the bibliographies and references

Your instructor may want you to use primary sources for your assignments.  Here's are some tips to help you.

Primary Sources are:

• documents, artistic works, speeches, videos or images
• first hand evidence of an event, person, or item
• created close to the time of the event

Secondary Sources:

• describe, summarize, or analyze information
• discuss information originally presented elsewhere
• second-hand accounts written after an event
• utilize primary sources

See More About Primary/Secondary Sources: UnitedStatesHistorySubjectGuide