Books and Journal Articles in Historical Writing

The process of conducting research has been greatly facilitated for history students of the twenty-first century. The computer has created a world in which students may have access to online journal articles as well as to online books. Each of these sources provides different degrees of knowledge on any given topic. However, it is important that the use of a computer and online resources do not replace the valuable information that can be found at the back of the library on those old and forgotten stacks. Equally important when conducting research is an understanding of a resource and the information one can gather by means of a closer reading.

The use of a book or online book provides the reader with a more general perspective. Most books contain a lot of detail that may not be particular to the research being conducted. However, the wealth of information is useful when attempting to understand a broader concept. A book is also useful when looking at the way in which your topic may relate to other subject areas. For example, the topic of interest could be women in the workforce. One may find a book that deals with women in the twentieth century. Although it does not deal specifically with women in the workforce, the book may provide useful insight to women during this time period. Books can also be useful to a student who is looking for a topic in which to conduct further research. History textbooks provide a general overview of any given topic and can be a great place for one to begin research. Reading through a textbook can bring a better understanding of a larger topic while at the same time fostering an interest in something much more manageable.

On the contrary, an online journal has the ability to provide concise information to a reader. Journals provide a great deal of knowledge in the academic world. There are journals designated to every discipline and sub-discipline of academia. Therefore, a student may wish to examine certain aspects of their topic through the use of an online or hard copy journal. Since journals are written in far less words than a book, research can be facilitated when particular information replaces the more general overview of a given topic. Using the above mentioned example of women in the workforce, the use of a journal can greatly advance one’s knowledge on this topic. A journal database would have the capability to pull up other articles written about the same subject area. In this manner, a student could learn more about a given topic while expanding upon their own argument by supporting or arguing against the work that has come before their own. Journal articles are also useful when attempting to understand a topic quickly. The ability to search for information within seconds allows a student to learn efficiently about more than one topic at any given time.

Books and journal articles are both extremely useful when it comes to research. Each resource has its advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, it is important that both resources are used when researching a given topic in order to gain a better understanding. While books provide a more general and inclusive interpretation of a topic, journal articles have the ability to be more concise and effective in communicating their point of view. The history student that takes advantage of both source materials will have the greatest degree of success in their studies!