CMU LibGuides: Women's History: Writing a History Paper

Reading Your Assignment

Before you begin, make sure you understand the following. If you are unsure of any of the below, ask your professor.

How long your paper should be
The length of the paper often implies the number and types of resources you should use.
What type of resources you should use
Are you expected to use certain types of sources? Or can you use anything on the Web? Any limitation to the type of Web/Internet resources you can use?
What type of sources you should use
Are you expected to use primary sources? Or can you use only secondary works?
If a draft is due at anytime
Drafts can give you useful feedback and prevent a total paper disaster.
When the final paper is due
Knowing the due date can help you avoid late penalties or ultimate failure.
What format your bibliography should be in
There are many types of formats-make sure you know which you should be using. (Citation manuals for all styles are at the Hunt Library Reference desk):
- Cite Right : A Quick Guide to Citation Styles
- Chicago Manual of Style
- Turabian (University of Chicago Press)
- APA Citation Style (Cornell University)
- MLA Citation Style (Cornell University)

Writing Using Sources for Academic Purposes by Rosemary Wette
Call Number: eBook
ISBN: 9780429057519
Publication Date: 2020-12-29
Writing Using Sources for Academic Purposes: Theory, Research and Practice provides research-based information about key components of source-based writing, and the challenges it presents for novices. Examines: (1) Changing views on the origins of novices' difficulties (2) Pre-writing tasks that writers need to work through, from locating and evaluating sources to proficient reading-to-write and summarizing strategies (3) Citing types and purposes (4) The more sophisticated abilities of conveying an appropriate stance and engaging with readers (5) Disciplinary citing practices 　 This book will be of interest to undergraduate and postgraduate writers from a variety of backgrounds, as well as their teachers and supervisors. It will be relevant to the growing number of researchers from non-English speaking backgrounds who are obliged to publish their work in English language international journals, and scholars who may be interested in carrying out research related to source-based writing.