Source Use & Citation

Historical Monograph - Choices Under Fire by Michael Bess

1. From analyzing Bess' work with his sources, what standard or rules does he seem to be following for citing his work?

     When discussing a new source Bess includes the author's first and last name, the title of the source, the publisher, and the publish date. After the original citation, Bess shortens the citations for the same source to just the author's last name, title of source, and the page number. And later Bess shortens the citations even more by including the form Ibid. and the page number. But if the same source needs to be cited again and there has been other sources since then then Bess reverts back to using just the author's last name, title of source, and page numbers.

2. Bess' work provides us with example of "Annotated" notes. (Examples: 3, 5, 6, 8, 11, 25). Based on these examples, what do you understand annotated to mean.

     On these examples, annotated means to include a citation of a source but also give details and thoughts like a personal opinion. Bess references the sources he's used along with his thoughts on the topics and includes many pronouns like "I" and "She" and "Her".

3. Are there sources in the notes that are not MENTIONED directly and explicitly in the text itself? If so, what rule seems to apply? How might he be making that determination?

      There are no notes that are not directly connected to the text itself. If there is a topic Bess would like to discuss more of he includes his own words when he annotates the citations, but if the topic is strongly discussed in the text then Bess only puts the needed information into the citation.

4. How did Bess credit his sources in the text to make it obvious when he is working with the words of the other authors?

     In the text, Bess is literally naming and identifying the sources he used along with the authors and numbers and quotes.

5. In the passage you read, Bess is working with many primary and secondary sources, but makes extensive use of one in particular. Given how extensively he is using the work of other historians or researchers, what makes his argument original?

     Bess uses both primary and secondary sources in his writings, but his ideas are his own. Bess includes his own opinions and thoughts but uses his sources as supporting evidence and another view.