Final answer:
Students should be able to recognize their own ideas versus those from secondary sources, locate credible secondary sources, and integrate these sources into their work with proper citations, maintaining a balance where their original ideas predominate.
Step-by-step explanation:
When dealing with secondary sources, students should be competent in several key areas for thorough historical research. First and foremost, it is crucial to identify and acknowledge which ideas and concepts are the student's own and which have been sourced from secondary materials. This differentiation is fundamental to academic integrity and scholarly work. To utilize secondary sources effectively, students must also be adept at finding credible and relevant sources to buttress their arguments. Strong research is characterized by the ability to locate, compile, and critically evaluate secondary sources in relation to the topic at hand. Lastly, integrating secondary sources into one's work involves more than just quoting or summarizing; it includes engaging with these sources with intention – summarizing main ideas, quoting specific phrases for analysis, and paraphrasing facts in one's own terms – while always providing appropriate in-text citations.
Additionally, seeking out scholarly, peer-reviewed sources, such as those found on academic databases like JSTOR or using the MLA International Bibliography, enhances the credibility of a review. The careful documentation of sources, with the help of tools provided by the Modern Language Association (MLA), is necessary for managing source material and ensuring proper citations. It is also important to use secondary research materials like established peer-reviewed journals and reputable organizations to supplement primary research findings, keeping accurate records for citation purposes. Finally, students should strive to have their original ideas make up the majority of their content, leveraging secondary sources for support without allowing them to overpower their own narrative and analysis.