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The study of how history is constructed. It involves the critical analysis and evaluation of historical methodologies and the way history has been written over time. From NESA Modern History Glossary
Browse the HSC Resources shelves and Reference shelves for books on a variety of topics. If you are studying an Australian topic you can also browse the Australian Reference collection in the Special Collections area.
Books available on the HSC Resources shelves include:
Fifty Key Thinkers on History by
Fifty Key Thinkers on History is a superb guide to historiography through the ages. The cross-section of debates and thinkers covered is unique in its breadth, taking in figures from ancient China, Greece and Rome, through the Middle Ages, to contemporary Europe, America, Africa and Australia; from Bede to Braudel; Marx to Michelet; Ranke to Rowbotham; Foucault to Fukuyama. Each clear and concise essay offers biographical information, a summary and discussion of the subjects approach to history and how others have engaged with it, a list of their major works and a guide to diverse resources for further study, including books, articles, films and websites.
History in the Making by
An eminent historian offers rare insight into his craft and the way it has changed over his lifetime From the vantage point of nearly sixty years devoted to research and the writing of history, J. H. Elliott steps back from his work to consider the progress of historical scholarship. From his own experiences as a historian of Spain, Europe, and the Americas, he provides a deft and sharp analysis of the work that historians do and how the field has changed since the 1950s. The author begins by explaining the roots of his interest in Spain and its past, then analyzes the challenges of writing the history of a country other than one's own. In succeeding chapters he offers acute observations on such topics as the history of national and imperial decline, political history, biography, and art and cultural history. Elliott concludes with an assessment of changes in the approach to history over the past half-century, including the impact of digital technology, and argues that a comprehensive vision of the past remains essential. Professional historians, students of history, and those who read history for pleasure will find in Elliott's delightful book a new appreciation of what goes into the shaping of historical works and how those works in turn can shape the world of thought and action.
Writing History by
Bringing together practical methods from both history and composition, Writing History, Fourth Edition, provides a wealth of tips and advice to help students research and write essays for history classes. The book covers all aspects of writing about history, including finding and researching topics, interpreting source materials, drawing inferences from sources, and constructing arguments. It concludes with three chapters that discuss writing effective sentences, using precise wording, and revising. Using numerous examples from the works of cultural, political, and social historians, Writing History serves as an ideal text in any history course that asks students to conduct research.
Use the library catalogue to find publications on history and guidebooks on academic writing.
More information:
If your topic concerns Australian history, there may be original materials or unpublished materials available in the Library for you to access.
Original materials may include
Search tips for the new catalogue
A quick way to search in the catalogue and find manuscripts, pictures and oral histories.
Get detailed advice from presenters at the State Library/Sydney Living Museums' History Extension Project seminar, and read prize-winning essays by former students from the History Teachers' Association's annual Extension Essay Prize.
See the eresources pages at left for recommendations of specific databases for different types of information:
Mitchell Library Reading Room
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