Published Examples | Primary Sources
Reference and Research Resources | How to Do Internet Research
Rhetorical Analysis | Journalism Ethics
NOTE that the hallmark of this course is building your writing on primary sources. Professor Elspeth Brown of the History Department gives a brief clear definition. The American Library Association also offers a good definition and excellent advice about Using Primary Sources on the Web.
Examples of Contemporary Journalistic History-Writing (in English), including work for visual and aural media
Canada's History Magazine (website contains full text of some articles; see also recent issues of print magazine in UTM Library; good examples of textboxes)
CBC Archives (radio and TV clips, brief introductions from news events since 1940; mostly Canadian, some world events -- sports, entertainment, war, etc.)
Historica (resources for teaching about Canadian history):
- Enjoy the short audio/video clips called Heritage Minutes; see also the brief prose passages accompanying the clips as examples of textboxes)
- Use the searchable Timeline (very brief factual notes on key events, including some from US and world history)
- Site also contains full texts for the Canadian Encyclopedia, which includes the Encyclopedia of Music in Canada (informative short articles, sometimes with audio and video clips, and incorporating bibliographies and links)
History Today (online magazine with brief readable articles and notes by historians about current issues in researching and writing history. In using this catalogue link, choose the Gale full-text service, then browse to find interesting examples; note especially the use of primary sources as illustrations)
Murmur Toronto Project (brief oral stories about personal memories of specific locations in Toronto, also accessible by cellphone: now covering Kensington Market, the Annex area, and some of the St. George Campus)
American Life Histories (transcripts of oral interviews from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936-1940: the words of ordinary people who experienced the US Depression era -- compare Barry Broadfoot's work with ordinary Canadians in Ten Lost Years, short-term loan, HB 3717 1929 .B7 1997)
Studs Terkel, Conversations with America, Chicago Historical Society (audio recordings of lively interviews, also published in various books in UTM library)
Primary Documents and Artefacts (some collections of historical material, mostly Canadian -- including online examples)
(For more extensive links to archival resources, see the course webpage on research resources set up by librarian Elaine Goettler for WRI320S.)Pliny the Younger
Letters 6.16 and 6.20 (a vivid first-person account about the eruption of Vesuvius in 70 C.E.)Thucydides
From the History of the Peloponnesian War (a first-person account of the plague in Athens in 431 B.C.E.)Early Images of Canada (National Library -- shows 19th c. illustrations, then tracks reprints and adaptations since original publication)
National Archives of Canada (online access to 40 million historical documents, including past government publications; includes sets for topics such as history of hockey, links to help on genealogy)
Heritage Canada Foundation (news and links from organizations across Canada that work to preserve historical heritage in all forms)
Canadian Letters and History Project (a project to depict the experiences of Canadians at war, using their own letters and photographs)
Archives of Ontario (a rich source of documents from provincial history, including statistics, records, and photographs)
Archives Association of Ontario (website of a professional organization that offers training workshops and access to collegial advice)
Ontario Historical Society (a good starting point for information about historical sites, museumks, and local history associations)
Canadian County Atlas Digital Project (search for 19th-century Canadian maps from the commercially-produced illustrated Atlases created to celebrate local successes)
Ontario Black History Society(short biographical notes on black leaders, links to resources for further research)
City of Mississauga, Local History (information about collections at Mississauga Central Library; online collections of photographs)
Peel Information Network, Local History Databases (Peel Digital Library includes a postcard collection, 1905-1950, and many previous local histories, with illustrations)
Toronto Archives (information about reference services, access to local documents; online collections of photos, especially about housing and development). N.B.: Note that the Toronto Archives are on Spadina ROAD, not Spadina AVENUE -- a five-minute walk north of the Dupont subway station.
Toronto Then and Now, Toronto Public Library (information about collections in Central Reference Library (Yonge St. at Bloor); online exhibits of historical photos, especially of buildings and town development)
Toronto Star Pages of the Past (online access to old newspaper stories for a fee, e.g., $5 for five hours; occasional access to free searching for specific years, currently 1945. N.B.: The Toronto Public Library provides free access to Pages of the Past at any of its branches.)
Reference and Research Resources: Some Starting Points
(For more detailed advice, see the course webpage on research resources set up by librarian Elaine Goettler for WRI320S.)University of Toronto Library Catalogue (including electronic resources; many tools for finding desired sources)
Oxford English Dictionary (huge "dictionary on historical principles": explore to see the way word forms and meanings develop over time; available online through campus computers or by off-campus login; online through UTOR login, also in print form at UTM Library [PE 1625 M7 1961 ERI REF])
Internet Modern History Sourcebook: Full Text Sources (classics of modern history, including Mein Kampf, writings of Chairman Mao, etc.)
Family Search (mostly but not all UK sources; use "Search" tab for links to census records, quick-search results, guidance on creating family trees)
How to Use the Internet for Research
Using Primary Sources on the Web (from the American Library Association: clear practical advice, especially on evaluating websites; some further links to archival sources, though mostly for US topics)
Standard Documentation Formats (U of T guide; for this course, see the section on MLA parenthetical style and the final section on electronic sources)
Frequently Asked Questions on MLA Citation Format (supplements the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (6th ed., the standard guide for academic writing in the humanities, available at UTM Library and UTM Bookstore)
Citing Electronic Information in History Papers (detailed and sensible advice from a US History professor)
Rhetorical Analysis
Doing a Rhetorical Analysis of a Text (a concise guidesheet from Colorado State, listing aspects to look for when you analyse a document rhetorically)
An Illustrated Glossary of Rhetorical Terms (a thorough set of definitions; see also the lists of other resources)
Principles of Journalistic Research and Reporting
Ryerson School of Journalism: Rules of Conduct for Students and Journalists (scroll to second screen on page: a clear and practical set of principles, especially on accuracy in journalistic writing)
Canadian Association of Journalists: Canadian Ethics Guidelines, and Principles for Ethical Journalism (clear statements by professional journalists, including notes on accuracy of reporting and naming of sources)