Hi! My name is Tammy. I'm your Clark College Reference Librarian.
I'm here to help you with your Art History Research Paper.
Research may seem so confusing and overwhelming.
Professors traditionally give students a Rubric for the assignment
requirements to follow, this guide lists specific criteria for grading your paper.
When you have a clear understanding of the assignment, you will need to pick a topic and develop a thesis statement.
Research may seem like too much work but
organizing your thoughts can make the process simpler.
Make a list of keywords that have to do with your subject of interest and be sure to think about other ways to phrase your
topic.
Once you come up with your great Idea . . .
Let's get started by exploring the Reference Collection for bibliographies, glossaries, and encyclopedias.
There are also additional print resources in the General Collection that address theory or analysis.
Professors may require that you use
Scholarly or Peer Reviewed Journals. Scholarly Journals are written, edited by Professors and Researchers before publication.
The articles are reviewed by other subject experts, hence the name Peer Reviewed.
The Library's Databases allow you to limit your search results to Peer-Reviewed Articles. Some good Databases to start your search are
Academic Search Premier, ProQuest, and Art Store.
Your Professor may also ask that you include Primary and Secondary Resources, but what is the Difference?
A Primary Source is a first-hand account that includes historical and legal documents, eyewitness descriptions, research and
statistical data, diaries and letters,
audio and video recordings, speeches, and art objects.
Secondary Sources is information created by someone using and referring to Primary Sources and they include
newspapers, magazines, books, and
bibliographies. Books can also be Primary Sources if they are a memoir or an autobiography.
Now that you know what Primary and Secondary Sources are you should think critically and evaluate the material
to confirm that they are reputable and valid.
Yippee! You're, well on your way to a successful research paper.
If you have any further questions please feel free to contact me at Tboyer@clark.edu.
