Using Sources When Writing in Classics
Start researching broadly at first, on databases and encyclopedias, using specific keywords in English, Latin, and Greek, since most texts have bits of Latin and Greek in them, even if they are written in English. When looking for other sources, check the citations in any article you are using and noting specific words that the author used. The reference desk can help you find and search for these keywords if you need help.
Primary Sources
Primary sources in the Classical Languages will always be written in Latin, Greek, or another ancient language of that time period. Depending on the prompt, you may or may not need to include these. The Loeb Classical Library is a great resource to skim through the original text to find the piece you want. Some professors will accept translations as primary sources, but others will expect this to be in the original language. If you can read it, it is best to use Latin or Greek. In the Classical Languages, most of these sources will be works of literature, such as letters, plays, epics, and histories.
Secondary Sources
Secondary Sources are typically modern sources, though sometimes these can be ancient writers talking about other ancient authors. These sources can be in English, German, French, or Italian, so it is important to restrict research to what you can read. These can be in any format from books to images, typically of archaeological finds. There are many more secondary sources that primary sources and these books or papers are far more narrow than the literary texts from class.
Citation
The citation style in Classical Languages is heavily reliant on the sub-discipline you are writing in. For the most part, historical and anthropological writing will use Chicago Style while language-based and literary criticism papers will be in MLA. It is important to check with the professor and the assignment about this. It is important to always cite all information, whether it is a paraphrase or summary of an idea or a specific line from a Latin or Greek text. The specificity of these citation varies on the text itself. Usually, articles can be cited simply with the author, books require pages, and ancient sources require line numbers. All citation styles vary based upon the professor’s preferences.