Student Guide To Approaching Alternative Sources - Routledge Guides To Using

As a student, conducting thorough research is crucial when it comes to writing essays, papers, or working on any academic project. While textbooks and academic journals are often some of the first sources we turn to, there is a vast array of alternative sources that can greatly enhance our understanding and provide unique insights.

Why Consider Alternative Sources?

Alternative sources encompass a wide range of materials that go beyond traditional academic publications. These sources can offer diverse perspectives, firsthand accounts, or niche expertise that may not be found in mainstream materials. Exploring alternative sources can help students develop a well-rounded understanding of a topic and make their work more engaging and compelling.

Types of Alternative Sources

1. Primary Sources: These sources provide firsthand information on a specific topic or event. Examples include letters, diaries, interviews, speeches, official documents, photographs, and archival material. Primary sources offer direct evidence or firsthand experiences, giving you an authentic insight into the subject matter.

History and Material Culture: A Student's Guide to Approaching Alternative Sources (Routledge Guides to Using Historical Sources)

by Greg Strandberg(2nd Edition, Kindle Edition)

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	6691 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	278 pages
Paperback	:	400 pages
Item Weight	:	1.19 pounds

FREE

2. Books and eBooks: While textbooks can be considered traditional sources, exploring books by subject matter experts or authors who provide unconventional perspectives can offer fresh insights. Many academic publishers, such as Routledge, offer alternative viewpoints and comprehensive guides that can enhance your research.

3. Documentaries and Podcasts: Audiovisual materials, including documentaries and podcasts, provide a dynamic way of learning. They often offer interviews with experts, personal stories, and real-life examples that can deepen your understanding of a subject. Websites like YouTube, Netflix, and Spotify host a myriad of educational content.

4. Blogs and Online Articles: Blogs and online articles can provide valuable insights from experts, professionals, and enthusiasts. While information on the internet should be critically evaluated, blogs written by reputable individuals or organizations can offer unique perspectives that are often more current than traditional print publications.

5. Social Media: Platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn can serve as alternative sources for staying up-to-date with current events and discussions. Many organizations and professionals share valuable insights, research findings, and thought-provoking ideas through their social media accounts.

Tips for Approaching Alternative Sources

1. Critical Evaluation: When using alternative sources, it is important to critically evaluate their credibility and reliability. Consider the author's expertise, the publication's reputation, the presence of biases, and cross-reference the information with other reliable sources.

2. Searching Techniques: Utilize advanced search techniques to find relevant alternative sources. This can include using specific keywords, utilizing various search engines, exploring specialized databases, and reaching out to subject matter experts.

3. Reference Lists: Check the reference lists of scholarly articles and papers you come across, as they often cite alternative sources that could be valuable for your research.

4. Network: Engage with professors, classmates, and professionals in your field of interest. They may be aware of alternative sources that are not widely known or may have recommendations based on their own experiences.

Exploring alternative sources can tremendously enrich your academic work by providing diverse perspectives and valuable insights. Remember to critically evaluate these sources and employ effective search techniques to find the most relevant and reliable information. By incorporating alternative sources into your research, you can develop a comprehensive understanding of your topic and produce work that stands out.

History and Material Culture: A Student's Guide to Approaching Alternative Sources (Routledge Guides to Using Historical Sources)

by Greg Strandberg(2nd Edition, Kindle Edition)

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	6691 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	278 pages
Paperback	:	400 pages
Item Weight	:	1.19 pounds

FREE

Sources are the raw material of History, but whereas the written word has traditionally been seen as the principal source, historians now recognize the value of sources beyond text. In this new edition of History and Material Culture, contributors consider a range of objects – from an eighteenth-century bed curtain to a twenty-first-century shopping trolley – which can help historians develop new interpretations and new knowledge about the past.

Containing two new chapters on healing objects in East Africa and the shopping trolley in the social world, this book examines a variety of material sources from around the globe and across centuries to assess how such sources can be used to study the distant and the recent past. In a revised , Karen Harvey discusses some of the principal issues raised when historians use material culture, particularly in the context of 'the material turn', and suggests some initial steps for those unfamiliar with these kinds of sources. While the sources are discussed from interdisciplinary perspectives, the emphasis of the book is on what historians stand to gain from using material culture, as well as what historians have to offer the broader study of material culture.

Clearly written and accessible, this book is the ideal to the opportunities and challenges of researching material culture, and is essential reading for all students of historical theory and method.