USMA Library Homepage: Department of History: Tutorials and Graphics

Resources for Military History - Tutorials and Graphics

The skills modules on the first tab are links to online tutorials about different topics. Each is only a few minutes long and can provide an introduction or instructions about research and library topics.

The interactive graphics on the second tab provide a unique way to learn about research skills and library resources.

Historical Research Questions and Thesis Development

Skills Modules
Interactive Graphics

Developing Historical Research Questions: Approximately 6 minutes
- Learn how to formulate an effective historical research question.
Developing a Research Question: Approximately 6 minutes
- Additional information about formulating research questions.
- Turn a topic of interest into a question.
- Write a research question that is clear, complex, focused, and researchable.
Developing a Thesis Statement: Approximately 4 minutes
- Learn how to turn your research question into a thesis.

Finding and Citing Sources

Skills Modules
Interactive Graphics

Finding and Saving Resources in SCOUT: Approximately 3 minutes
SCOUT Filters: Approximately 5 minutes
- Locate the area on the USMA Library website where you can find various SCOUT filters
- Use filters to narrow your search results.
- Determine which filter to use to best narrow your results
Keyword Searching in the Library Catalog: Approximately 3 minutes
Databases: Approximately 3 minutes
- Learn how a database is different from the Internet
- Find and select Subject Specific databases from the USMA Library
Why Cite?: Approximately 6 minutes
- Explain why citing sources is a part of academic research
- Identify when a source needs to be cited

Types of Sources: Scholarly vs. Popular, Primary vs. Secondary and More

Skills Modules
Interactive Graphics

Primary vs Secondary Sources: Approximately 5 minutes
- Explain the difference between primary and secondary sources.
Types of Resources: Approximately 3 minutes
- Identify and differentiate between various types of library resources, including books, journals, databases, and multimedia materials
.Peer Reviewed Articles: Approximately 6 minutes
- Explain why peer review is used in academic publishing
- Describe the steps of the peer review process