Pols 350 Group and Minority Politics

Case Study Research Resources

Resources helpful for the "Minority Politics Collaborative Case Studies (for the web)" depend on the particular topic being researched.  If you are researching the history of your assigned city, you will find books and other reference materials the most valuable.  Demographic data is available primarily on the web.  Information about your city government and its elected officials is also available on the web, from reference materials, and possibly books or articles.  Issues of concern to minority groups in your city are best covered by the local newspapers, but may also receive attention from national newspapers and newsmagazines.

History

The course Research Paper Resources page describes the search tools available to you for finding books on different topics.  The Encyclopedia Britannica provides a concise historical background on your city as does the fifth edition (2005) of the Cities of the United States, available in the Reference Collection of the McIntyre Library (HT101.C57).  You may also find brief historical introductions to your city on the city web pages (see below).  City Profiles USA, available in the McIntyre Library Reference Collection (E158.C58 2000/01), provides lists of Information Sources and On-Line Resources that might prove helpful for this research topic and the others as well.  On the Web, Infoplease provides a snapshot profiles of the 50 largest cities of the U.S, including a brief introduction to the historical development of the cities.

Demographics

Demographic data is widely available on the web.  The Census Bureau gathers and publishes volumes of data on the United States. American FactFinder allow you to get a Fact Sheet of demographic data for your city as well as a Fact Sheet of demographic data for Race or Ethnic Groups in your city.  Statistical Abstracts of the United States (also available in the McIntyre Library Reference Desk), and County and City Databooks (also available at the Government Collection CD Workstation on the first floor of the McIntyre Library or the Reference Desk in hard copy) compile and report a good deal of information about cities as well.  The Cities of the United States (HT101.C57 Reference Collection) provides a brief demographic description of your city.   Lexis-Nexis Statistical Power Tables allow you to search for data on cities.  Others web pages that you might find helpful include:  The State of the Cities Data Systems and MapStats.

Government

Most cities have web pages that provide information about their city governments.  You can access these pages through a general Internet Search or through State and Local Governments on the Net.  You may also search for books (see above) and articles (see below) on the politics and government of the city.  The Cities of the United States (HT101.C57) includes a brief description of the form of city government. 

Issues

To find discussion of political issues of importance to minorities, you will rely on more recent journalistic accounts of city politics.  The course Research Paper Resources page links to the best available sources for articles in journals, magazines, and newspapers (including the Ethnic Newswatch database of minority-focused newspapers).   Most local newspapers now publish an on-line version with convenient search capabilities for finding information on minority issues in your city.

  

Professor Rodd Freitag Schneider 200E Phone: (715) 836-5044 Fax: (715) 836-2944 Updated: February 6, 2008