Jill Fields
3History 175: US History, 1945-Present 3
CSU Fresno, Spring 2004 3
primary research assignment -- guidelines
General Requirement
A 3 to 4 page paper describing and analyzing a Fresno Bee newspaper article and a national magazine report on any event from 1945 to the present published at the time the event took place. Students sign up for their due dates for the paper, and present their topic in class (counts toward class participation grade).
What to Include
There are three parts of equal importance to the paper:
1) summary of historical event, issue, or debate (addressing the who, what, why, when, and where questions). You will need to cite your source(s), and will need to refer directly to the article(s) you have selected.
2) description of historical background or themes of U.S. history relevant to understanding more about, and explaining the significance of event, issue, or debate.
3) your analysis and conclusions regarding the event and the historical trends and themes raised in the reporting of this particular event, issue or debate. If possible, include consideration of the relationship between local and national trends and themes through comparing and contrasting the Bee and national magazine reports.
Questions to Consider
How does the event, issue or debate relate to the larger context of national trends and historical change taking place during that period?
Is the national context a factor in how the event/issue/debate is being considered by those directly involved, by reporters or by the public? If so, how are the national aspects being considered? If not, how is the event being presented as one of only local concern?
Are these larger issues being considered by those directly involved, by reporters or by the public? If so, how are these issues being considered? If not, can you determine why?
Does reporting on the event rely upon particular conceptions understood to be accurate and shared assumptions at that time about race, class and gender? Does the reporting convey historical information about how race, class and gender were understood in that period?
Does the reporting in the Fresno Bee differ from the national magazine report? Is the event presented in the Bee as one of local concern, only of national interest, or both? Would the newspaper report and the people of Fresno have benefitted from considering the event in a wider context? Or, was it appropriate to consider the event only in a local context?
What additional evidence might you need to more fully investigate the event and how it was reported? What sources might provide that evidence?
Remember
1) Pick a topic that interests you!
2) You can discuss topic ideas or get help with a rough draft during office hours.
3) Include a photocopy of the article(s) you have selected with your paper.
Microfilm
Microfilm of local and national newspapers and magazines are located on the third floor in the Henry Madden Library. If you have never used microfilm before, don’t hesitate to ask for assistance!
The NY Times microfilm begins in 1857 and the Times index covers the 20th century; the Los Angeles Times microfilm begins in 1969, the index starts with1972. There is a card index of the Fresno Bee on microfilm, but it is very hit or miss.
The Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature is an important source for locating magazine articles and dates to look for newspaper microfilm. Looking at the Reader’s Guide subject headings and the titles of articles on an event provides a sense of the terms in which a particular trial is being discussed and the amount of coverage received. Some dates of the Reader’s Guide are now searchable online. Additional indexes and guides are located in the Reference section of the Library; ask the Reference Librarian for assistance in finding them.
Magazines
Here are some suggestions for magazines to browse through that we have in our library, with years available noted. Call numbers are for bound volumes.
Architectural Digest (1973-1997) NA 1 A72
Ebony 1945-2000, microfilm; 1965-1982, bound, call number fAP2 E165
Good Housekeeping, bound 1975-1981, call number TX1 G7; microfilm 1980-1999
Harper’s Bazaar, bound 1900-2001 (incomplete), call number AAP2 H3; microfilm 1981-2000
Ladies Home Journal, bound 1969-1981, call number fAP2; microfilm 1981-2000
Life, bound 1936-1972, call number fAP2 L547
Look, bound 1937-1971, call number fAP2 L79
Ms., bound 1973-1982, call number HQ 1101 M55; microfilm 1981-2000
Newsweek, bound 1934-1981, call number AP2 N6772; microfilm 1933-2000
Popular Mechanics (1980-1999, microfilm; 1959-1981, bound) T1 P77
Saturday Evening Post, bound 1944-1969, 1972-1999, call number AP2 S2
Scientific American (1904-1999) fT1 55
Sports Illustrated, bound 1954-1981, call number GV561 S733; 1981-present, microfilm
Time, bound 1925-2000 (incomplete), call number AP2 T37
Vogue, microfilm 1940-1977, 1981-2000 (incomplete); bound 1946-1982, call number fTT500
Periodicals with A-P call numbers are on the fourth floor; Q-Z on the second floor, with current unbound issues by the elevators on the first floor. The "f" preceding some call numbers stands for "folio" or oversized, and are located on the mezzanine level in the library.