English 12, Stoic Heroes and Disenchanted Knights 

Usually you will first want to gather background information on your topic.  Or, perhaps you have a few topics in mind and just want to read a little bit about each one before making a choice.  Reference sources, such as subject encyclopedias, often are the best place to start.  They're terrific at laying out basic information about a topic: a chronicle of its history; current status; key events; key people; and most importantly, a bibliography of additional sources.

 Reference sources will vary depending on your specific topic.  A selection of print sources recommended for this class are listed in this guide; they also are listed on your class Blackboard page.

Finding Library Books

Start on the Library Gateway library.bowdoin.edu. If you have a specific book in mind, search by Title or Author; if not, try Subject (assigned subject headings) or Keyword (a word that appears in the title or elsewhere).   You may want to browse virtually in the Bowdoin catalog: look for additional headings under “Subject,” or added "Tags" or "Similar Books" when you have a record on the screen.  And don't underestimate the value of browsing the book stacks! After you’ve found a book on your topic, take a little time to glance at books to the left and right on the shelf; you may come across the perfect one!

Bowdoin College Library Catalog
- books, videos, government documents, etc. in Bowdoin's library

 NExpress
- combined catalog of Bowdoin, Bates, Colby, Wellesley, Williams, Middlebury, Vassar, and Northeastern.  Requests take 2-3 days.

 MaineCat

- combined catalog for all the libraries in the State, including the University of Maine, the State Library, and hundreds of public libraries.  Requests take 2-5 days.

What is the Difference Between a Primary Source and a Secondary Source?

According to A Manual for Writers by Kate Turabian (University of Chicago Press, 7th ed., 2007), “Secondary sources are books and articles that analyze primary sources, usually written by and for other researchers. You use secondary sources for three purposes: 1. to inform and refine [your] thinking; 2. to find other points of view; 3. to find models for your own research and analysis. Primary sources are original works—diaries, letters, manuscripts, images, films, film scripts, recordings, musical scores, and ... data collected through observation and experiment.” 

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