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History of the Health Sciences : First Step

First Step

First Step: Construct an overall line of inquiry, a theme or question 
 

  "How do I come up with an idea?"

  • Especially if this is your first historical research paper it helps to springboard from an event from your own family's history, perhaps your great grandmother survived the 1918 Influenza epidemic.

  • Ideas can come from a current historical study that does not explore in depth a specific part of an issue. A chapter on the history of home birth leaves out discussion of how women may have learned about their birthing options in the 1970s.

  • Comparisons on similar issues between different countries or varying time periods are often instructive. Did Canada react differently to the AIDS crisis then America?