The Mountain View College Library provides several types of information, both in print and electronically, to assist in writing research papers.
Use the tabs at the top to navigate through the guide.
Books: A book can provide good in-depth background and historical information.
Reference Books: Consists of encyclopedias, atlases, and other specific information. Use these for definitions and short explanations.
Articles: Can be found in magazines, journals, and newspapers. The MVC Databases can provide you with these articles.
Web Sites: The internet can provide an abundance of information. Use it with caution and be sure to evaluate the websites using the TRAAP system.
A thesis statement is a sentence (or sentences) that express the main idea of an essay, research paper, report, or speech.
Good thesis statements should:
The Library of Congress describes primary sources as "raw materials of history-original documents and objects which were created at the time under study." Primary sources are original, first-hand, authoritative accounts of an event.
Examples of Primary Sources include:
Secondary sources interpret primary sources. They are at least one step removed from the original event or account. It is a secondhand version of events.
Examples of Secondary Sources include:
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