This guide is meant to collect a sampling of resources to support the research paper assigned for POL: 201. It include links to journals, ebooks, and databases relevant to the assignment. As always, you will have to do some searching in order to find resources relevant to your specific topic.
Typically, art historical research can be separated into two categories: Primary and Secondary. It is important to understand the differences between the two types of resources.
A Primary Source is Defined As: Documents/materials produced by people in the period and culture under consideration. These sources provide the evidence on which historians rely in order to interpret the work and its significance in the time and place of its creation. Some primary sources are written documents, such as letters; speeches; biographies; official decrees, religious texts, legal records, economic and trade records. In addition, art historians often examine primary sources such as archaeological remains.
A Secondary Source is Defined As: A resource that discusses a previously created artwork or monument or prior period/event from an academic or research or layperson perspective. The key here is that the resource is from some time after the event. An example of this would be a book about Political Science or an article in a journal publication discussing the significance of the 2016 election. A book will NOT typically be a primary source unless it is a compilation of letters or diary entries or documents.
Primary vs. Secondary Source: Often times determining whether something is primary or secondary may depend on the question that is being asked. For instance, if a researcher is researching the issues around liberal ideology and reads a book on that topic published in the 1800's, that book may be determined to be primary, but a contemporary book on the same topic would be secondary.
How to Start Your Search
These tips are specific for our general search, however, you can apply these same keyword search strategies to anywhere you do research. In the Summon search box above, type in keywords to get you started.
Keyword Searches
More Specific Search and Boolean Operators
Select Content Type
Filter Your Search Results
Refine Your Search
Off-Campus Access
When you are off campus, you will be prompted to login to the library's databases with your UM-Dearborn uniquename and your Kerberos password (that you use for your UM-Dearborn email). UM-Dearborn students, faculty, and staff are no longer required to create or use a Library PIN to access their library accounts or the library's online resources.
Go to the Contact the Library page if you have any issues or problems with accessing the library's databases, journals, ebooks, streaming videos, or library accounts.
On-Campus Access
There are three (3) Wi-Fi networks on UM-Dearborn campus. Make sure you're connected to the UMD-Secure wireless network. It is the only one that allows you to connect to online library resources without looking like you're off-campus. There are two ways to access to the UMD-Secure wireless network:
To connect to UMD-Secure on your Chromebook, follow the instructions on the Connecting Chromebooks to UMD-Secure handout.
