Introductory Resources •
Tips for BrainstormingPrevious 101 Papers in the History Department Library
Past 101 thesis papers can give you a sense for how much can be accomplished in 15 weeks. Visit the History Library in 2337 Dwinelle Hall to browse these works.
Published Scholarly Essays
Browse historical journals for articles related to our theme. See how professional historians present their research and define their arguments. The scholarly journal archive JSTOR is a terrific place to start. You can also search the Periodical Room of Doe Library, the stacks, and reading material from your other history courses.
Historical Monographs
Browsing historical monographs or viewing documentary films can introduce you to various approaches to cultural scholarship. Some examples:
• Lawrence Levine, Black Culture and Black Consciousness: Afro-American Folk Thought from Slavery to Freedom (1977)
• Paula S. Fass, The Damned and the Beautiful: American Youth in the 1920s (1977)
• Ethnic Notions, a film directed by Marlon Riggs (1986)
• Kathy Peiss, Cheap Amusements: Working Women and Leisure in Turn-of-the-Century New York (1986)
• Paul Fussell, Wartime: Understanding and Behavior in the Second World War (1989)
• Lynn Spigel, Make Room for TV: Television and the Family Ideal in Postwar America (1992)
• Thomas Cripps, Making Movies Black: The Hollywood Message Movie from WW II to the Civil Rights Era (1993)
• John W. Dower, War Without Mercy: Race and Power in the Pacific War (1993)
• Mel Watkins, On the Real Side: A History of African American Comedy (1994)
• Richard Ohmann, Selling Culture: Magazines, Markets, and Class at the Turn of the Century (1996)
• Shane and Graham White, Stylin': African-American Expressive Culture from Its Beginnings to the Zoot Suit (1998)
• Henry Giroux, The Mouse that Roared: Disney and the End of Innocence (2001)
• Lizabeth Cohen, A Consumer's Republic: The Politics of Mass Consumption in Postwar America (2003)
• Eric Avila, Popular Culture in the Age of White Flight: Fear & Fantasy in Suburban Los Angeles (2004)
• Buzzy Jackson, A Bad Woman Feeling Good: Blues and the Women Who Sing Them (2005)
• Jeff Chang, Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation (2005)
American Popular Culture Survey Texts
If you're having trouble choosing a topic, scan survey texts related to our theme. Here are just a few examples:
• Bob Batchelor, The 1900s: American Popular Culture Through History (2002)
• David Blanke, The 1910s: American Popular Culture Through History (2002)
• Kathleen
Drowne, The 1920s: American Popular Culture Through History (2004)
• William Young, The 1930s: American Popular Culture Through History (2002)
• Robert Sickels, The 1940s: American Popular Culture Through History (2004)
• William Young, The 1950s: American Popular Culture Through History (2004)
• Edward Rielly, The 1960s: American Popular Culture Through History (2003)
• Mitchell Hall, Crossroads: American Popular Culture and the Vietnam Generation (2005)
Research Resources •
Tips for Mining the Archives
Using Primary Source Materials
Visit this online guide for help identifying and mining primary sources.
Navigating the UC Berkeley Libraries
Use this tutorial to familiarize yourself with the library catalogs.
Check out one of many library workshops.
Get acquainted with the stacks by joining a library tour.
For specific questions about finding materials onsite or off, schedule an appointment with a librarian at the Doe Library Reference Center.
Mining Offsite Archives
Through the UC Berkeley Interlibrary Borrowing Service, located in 133 Doe Library, you can request books, films, microfilm, and other materials from any UC campus and from many libraries across the country. (The average request is delivered within two to three weeks, so if you choose to rely on this service you must plan ahead.)
Using Electronic Resources
Before attempting to mine electronic databases, set up your browser for the Library Proxy Server Service.
Access UC Berkeley's online databases and connect to other electronic research resources here.
Writing Resources •
Guides to Great Prose and Perfect Citations
Elements of Style
Refer often to this classic writing style guide from William Strunk, Jr., available in full from Bartleby Books.
For just a couple of dollars, pick up Kate Turabian's invaluable manual for writers.
The UC Berkeley Student Learning Center offers drop-in and by-appointment tutoring for struggling writers.
Footnoting and Crafting the Bibliography
Bookmark this useful Guide to Citation Styles .
Pick up a copy of The Chicago Manual of Style or refer to the online Quick Guide.
Visit this excellent guide on citing electronic sources.
Avoiding Plagiarism
Try these simple online writing exercises to learn what is and what isn't plagiarism.
Additional Resources •
Information for the History Major
Honors Information
Visit the History Department website for more information on the Undergraduate Honors Program for History Majors.
Students With Disabilities
If you need disability-related accommodations in this class or if you have a Letter of Accommodation from the Disabled Students' Program, please inform me immediately. I invite you to meet with me during my office hours.
The Disabled Students' Program (DSP) is the campus office responsible for verifying that students have disability-related needs for academic accommodations. Students who need academic accommodations should request them from the DSP, located at 230 César Chávez Student Center. You may also call 642-0518.
