The Coliseum and its importance to ancient Romans

Focus your research by making it a question:

What was the Coliseum and why was it important to ancient Romans?

To answer this larger question, you need to answer several smaller ones.   These research questions will help you focus your research by identify the important facts and ideas you will need to prepare your report. 

Sample research questions for this topic:

	Where is the Coliseum located? When was it built?
	How big is it? How was it constructed ?
	How was it used? By whom? For what purposes?
	What role did it serve in the lives of the Romans?
	Who controlled the Coliseum? What was gained and lost there?

	Become familiar with key events, people and places  associated with your topic
	Identify important aspects, interpretations or controversies
	Create a list of keywords and key phrases for online searching.
	Find bibliographies of other useful resources about your topic.

Reference

Ref 292.0703 Ad53           Dictionary of Roman Religion

Ref 355.009 M76               Battles of the Greek & Roman Worlds

Ref 355.009 W259             Warfare in the Classical World

Ref 355.82 N811                Historical Guide to Arms and Armor

Ref 355.4403 D295            Besieged: An Encyclopedia of Great Sieges

Ref 509 Sci 26 Vol. I           Science & Its Time: Social Significance of

Ref 509 H629 Vol. I            History of Science and Technology

Ref 609 J235                     Ancient Inventions

Ref 641 Ox2                       Oxford Companion to Food

Ref 703 En19 Vol. XII         Encyclopedia of World Art

Ref 709.4 B644  Vol. I        Book of Art

Ref 720.9 B146                  Great Buildings

Ref 720.9 Y25                     Chronology of Western Architecture

Ref 880.09 G767                Greek and Latin Authors

Ref 808.03 Ox2                  Oxford Companion to Classical Literature

Ref 938.003 Ox2C             Oxford Companion to Classical Civilization

Ref 938.003 Ox2                Oxford Classical Dictionary

Ref 938 C499, 3 vols          Civilization of the Ancient World

Ref 937.02 C815                Atlas of the Roman World

Ref 937.0603 B885            Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire

Ref 937 Ad 53                    Handbook to Life in Ancient Rome

Ref 937 B176                     Ancient Romans

Ref 937.02 P239                Horizon Book of Ancient Rome

Ref 937.03 R394               New Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome

Ref 938 Ox2                      Oxford History of the Classical World

The library also has four sets of print encyclopedias: Academic American Encyclopedia  Encyclopedia Americana Encyclopedia Britannica World Book

Stacks

609 W675                           History of Invention

609 W584                           Greek and Roman Technology

609.37                                Technology in the Time of Ancient Rome

709.01 H985                      Prehistoric and Ancient Art

The Hopkins Library Catalog contains all the books, videos, DVDs, CDs and pamphlets that are available in our library.  You can search the catalog online from any computer with an internet connection. 

	To search the catalog, go to http://hopkinslibrary.net.
	Enter keyword(s) in the search box
	Your result page will look like this:

The Location Information gives you the call number (located on the book's spine) and area in which it is shelved.  Reference = short bookcases;   Stacks = tall bookcases.

Search Tip: When you find a useful book, click on its subject headings to find more books related to your topic. 

 

In the interest of academic honesty, ethical researchers include full bibliographic citations as part of their work for three important reasons:

	Citations rightfully acknowledge the ideas, facts and words (i.e., the intellectual property) of others;
	Citations enable others to find the sources mentioned in your paper so they can verify and build on your work; and
	Citations are evidence of the extent of your own research.

Plagiarism is to intentionally or unintentionally use the ideas, facts,
or words of another person without acknowledging that they are not
your own.  Plagiarism is a form of academic dishonesty which Hopkins considers as a very serious misconduct. It can be avoided by accurately
citing your source material. If you are uncertain if a source or idea
should be cited, ask your teacher for guidance.

MLA Style. NoodleTools citation maker software can help you create MLA style citations for print and digital resources including web sites and online databases. It is available off campus with remote username and remote password. You can find a link to NoodleTools under "Databases" on the left side of the library homepage at http://hopkinslibrary.net.

Chicago Style.  For a description of the information you will need for
Chicago style citations and the correct format in which to write them, refer to any of the following:

	A Pocket Guide to Writing for History (Available at the Circulation desk for use in the Library. The Pocket Guide can be purchased at the Hopkins bookstore.)
	Writing History at Hopkins (an online guide prepared by the Hopkins History Department )
	http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html. (online guide from the Chicago Manual of Style).

The Citation Worksheet can help you create citations for books, websites and databases in Chicago style format. Print a copy and use it to record information about each source you use. 

Questions? Ask your History teacher or a Librarian!