Student Resources
A history major equips you with skills to communicate effectively. Here you'll find some of the resources you need to develop the skills and virtues necessary to the work of a historian.
Guides for writing papers
These guides are intended as quick references to writing papers according to the Chicago Manual of Style, the authority for academic citation that is most often used in history writing. Many other disciplines use Chicago-style citation, but be sure to check with your instructor about which method (Chicago, MLA, APA, or something else) is preferred in your class.
Avoiding plagiarism
Academic honesty and the proper citation of sources are especially important for historians and are required of all history students. We expect our students to exhibit honesty, integrity, fairness, charity, and civility in discussion and debate with others personally and professionally, and to avoid plagiarism and other forms of intellectual dishonesty. Refer to the Student Code of Conduct (section VI) for more information about Calvin's policy on academic dishonesty.
- Writing with integrity (Rhetoric Across the Curriculum)
- What is plagiarism? (Web Book)
- Purdue online writing lab guide to
Recommended reading for historical research
- This site has useful resources on reading (both primary & secondary sources), writing (topic sentences, thesis statements, outlines, etc.) and historical research.
- Corfield, Penelope J. Institute of Historical Research, 2008.
- Fea, John. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2013.
- Rampola, Mary. 7th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2012