Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace, 2nd Edition

Evidence Explained is the definitive guide to the analysis and citation of historical sources. It begins with a simple question: Why do we invest so much of our energy into the citation of sources? and the intriguing answer: Because all sources are not created equal. Evidence Explained is built on this simple question and answer. According to the author, there are no historical resources we can trust at face value. Records simply offer evidence, and their assertions may or may not be true. To decide what likely happened, we must understand those records. To analyze that evidence and judge what to believe, we also need particular facts about those records. Thus, Evidence Explained has two principal uses:

• It provides citation models for most historical sources--especially original materials not covered by classic citation guides such as The Chicago Manual of Style.
• Its models, and supporting discussions, help us understand each type of record and identify the details we and our readers will need to know--not only to relocate the source when needed but also to understand the nature of that source so that its evidence can be better interpreted and the accuracy of our conclusions can be properly appraised.

Highlights: The revised second edition of Evidence Explained

• covers all contemporary and electronic sources not discussed in traditional style manuals, including digital, audio, and video sources.
• Explains citation principals and includes more than 1,000 citation models for virtually every source type.
• Teaches researchers where to find sources, how to describe them, and how to evaluate them
• Guides users through the challenge of separating facts from assertions, and theory from proof, in the evaluation of evidence.
• Covers source citations for every known class of records, including microfilm, microfiche, and records created by the new digital media such as audio files, blogs, CDs and DVDs, digital books and journals, podcasts, social media, and websites of all types.

If you are a researcher, you need this book. Consult it during your research to guide you in capturing all the information you will need. Use it as a guide to identify source types and guide you to other related records. Use it to evaluate digital and Internet sources. Make it your standard for citing sources and evaluating evidence in your day-to-day research.