1. RESEARCH A Gentle Guide

2. Media Center Research Strategy Select A Topic Find Background Material Find Books Find Articles Find Other Resources Evaluate Sources Use APA style manual Ask For Help

3. Choosing a Topic Selecting a topic is possibly the most difficult part of doing research. Is it too big? Is it too narrow? Will I be able to find enough on it? Start by choosing a topic that you like or are curious about. You're going to be working on it for quite a while, so try and find one that's interesting and that you can reasonably cover in the time and space available. Image from: http://www.dlacreative.com/images/head-topics.jpg

4. Take a few moments to do some quick background reading either in your textbooks or some of the more specialized resources in the library is often a good way to get ideas for topics. Even an encyclopedia is a good place to start. The next step is to narrow your topic to something manageable. You will probably refine and refocus your topic several times before you finalize it. Image from: http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/rma/lowres/rman859l.jpg

5. Once you have selected a topic and determined how you are going to develop it, you should be ready to write your thesis statement, a one- or two-sentence summary that indicates what you intend to do or argue. In your research, you will be collecting evidence to defend, clarify, or develop your thesis statement. Start compiling a list of the key words that you will use as you search for your topic.

6. To summarize Select a topic Read through background information Narrow and refine your topic based on initial research Start making a list of key words.

7. Finding Background Information Take a few minutes to read about your topic in a specialized encyclopedia, dictionary or handbook Encyclopedias and handbooks are good places to start your research when you know little about a topic, when you need an overview of a subject, or when you want a quick summary of basic ideas. They are also useful for discovering the names of important people, and can familiarize you with the vocabulary of the field.

8. Encyclopedia articles are often followed by carefully selected bibliographies or lists of references to other works, useful items to have as you begin looking for additional information. Dictionaries can help you to define unfamiliar terms. The way terms are used in some fields can be very different from standard everyday usage and this is a quick way to build a useful list of key words for search. Image from: http://www.hartnell.edu/library/LIB5/reference_books.jpg

9. To summarize Read about your topic in specialized encyclopedias or handbooks. Check dictionaries for terms. Use bibliographies to create lists of related materials.

10. Finding Books To locate books at CCHS use the on-line catalog, Destiny. These online catalogs are powerful search tools. Locate the green icon titled “Destiny” on the computer desktop screen and click on it. The next screen will allow you to type in key words or search terms to find materials in the Media Center. Write down the title and call number of book before leaving computer.

11. COMPUTER LOG-IN: USERNAME: First four letters of your last name, first two letters of your first name, middle initial PASSWORD: First initial, last initial, your ID number. EXAMPLE: John Q. Smith Username: smitjoq; Password: JS123456

12. LOG IN SCREEN

13. On your desktop screen, click the DESTINY ICON.

14. TYPE IN YOUR SEARCH TERM(S)

15. Finding Books The public library has a program that allows you to borrow books from libraries in their network. The catalog is available online at pines.public.lib.ga.us/

16. Using Books Use the indexes to see if your topic is included – you don’t have to use the entire book. Many of the topics are included in general history books of the period. Don’t forget the REFERENCE area! Keep in mind that many reference books contain more than one index (Ex. geographic, author, title, first line, etc.)

17. Other Considerations: Put materials back where they came from! If you don’t know where it came from, put it on the shelving cart. Reference materials cannot be checked-out. Copies are.05 each – Only teachers and Library Staff use the machine. Bring small change. ALL CLEAR PASS: students must return all books to the CCHS and public Library before paper will be graded.

18. IMPORTANT INFO: THE LIBRARY / MEDIA CENTER OPENS AT 7:30 AM AND IS OPEN UNTIL 4:45 ON TUESDAY AND THURSDAY. THE MEDIA CENTER CLOSES AT 3:45 MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, AND FRIDAY.

19. Finding Journal Articles Use GALILEO (Georgia Library Learning On-line), the Media Center’s electronic reference database. www.galileo.usg.edu Check with Media Specialists for password The search process in GALILEO works best when you select only one database at a time Try starting your search with an on-line periodical index which arranges articles by key words. (SIRS or EBSCO) Allow some extra time to learn how this system works.

20. CLICK ‘EBSCO HOST’ OR ‘SIRS Researcher’

21. To create a folder for storing information, click on the link ‘Sign in to MY EBSCOhost’

22. IF AT HOME, ENTER PASSWORD

23. ENTER SEARCH TERMS

24. LIST OF ARTICLES. CLICK THE BLUE WORDS IN THE TITLE TO SEE ARTICLE

25. THIS IS THE ARTICLE. AFTER READING IT, YOU MAY PRINT BY CLICKING ON THE “PRINT” ICON AT THE TOP OF THE SCREEN

26. After locating article, add it to your folder.

27. You can also add to your folder from inside an article.

28. Finding Resources on the WWW The World Wide Web (WWW) provides a means of connecting to a vast amount of information via the Internet. It can include text, graphics, video, sound and more. The range of information is enormous, ever- changing and varied.

29. However, just because something comes packaged in a high tech format, doesn't mean it's well researched or accurate. One approach to researching the Web is to start your search using a site that is more likely to focus on scholarly resources and critically evaluate your WWW search results.

30. Wikipedia Your teachers do not consider Wikipedia a valid source. It is OK to use it for general information to get started, but do not cite Wikipedia as a resource in your project. Wikipedia articles are ‘graded’. Click on the “Discussion” tab to learn how the article rates. Image from wikimedia.org

31. A good place to start on the Internet is our Media Center website http://destiny.colquitt.k12.ga.us We have a listing of online directories as well as specific subject area websites that you may use as a starting point.

32. Search Engines vs. Directories A search engine uses programs (called “spiders” or robots”) to collect information. A search engine searches by keywords. A directory is a list of websites about specific subjects. Websites in a directory have been previewed by a PERSON to verify that they have valid information.

33. Internet Search Engines Ask.com Beaucoup! Bing Infotopia Mamma Metacrawler Surf Wax Sweet Search Twurdy Vivisimo WolframAlpha Yippy Image from: http://www.useful-tools.org/wp-content/uploads/Internet-search-engines-3.jpg

34. Directories Academic Index All My Faves Awesome Library Awesome Stories Complete Planet Dewey Browse Infotopia ipl2 Library Spot Mr. Nussbaum Qwiki Virtual Learning Resource Center Virtual Library WatchKnow Image from: http://www.indieresults.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/directory.jpg

35. Evaluating Your Sources Not all information is created equal. Just being in print or available via the Internet doesn't guarantee that what is produced is accurate or good research. Some brief tips on locating well researched articles or books:

36. Look for articles published in journals or sources that require certain standards or criteria be met before publication. Use the bibliographies or cited references from other journal articles or books. Compare several opinions by scholars in your topic field is another way to verify or evaluate your sources. Check on the publication date or date updated if it is a website. Consult your instructor.

37. CAR C=Currency—when was the material published? Is it relatively new? A=Authority—was the material written by someone known to be knowledgeable in the field? R=Relevance—is the material relevant to your subject?

38. Creating Your Own Bibliography When you write a research paper, it's important that you credit the scholars and critics who have contributed to your ideas, whatever the format their publications may take (print, electronic, www) Using citations and bibliographies is the scholarly method used to accomplish this. There are guides specific to certain fields of study, or your teacher may request a specific bibliographic and citation style. Here at CCHS, APA style is the preferred citation choice for most teachers.

39. As you work, be consistent and pay close attention to periods, commas, quotation marks, and so on. This care in your work will allow others to more easily read and follow the path you used to arrive at your conclusions. http://www.swfkits.com/swf-converter-blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/4-help-for-flash-swf.jpg

40. Citation Guides Purdue’s OWL (online writing lab) has both APA and MLA style guides http://citationmachine.net/ http://colquitt.high.schooldesk.net/Perso nnel/MediaCenter/CitingSources/tabid/9 152/Default.aspx

41. Getting help Remember the first rule of using a library: Help is Always Available! Ask at the Circulation Desk for assistance. Your teacher is your best guide for this project - depend upon their guidance! Image from: http://www.greatpowerpointdesign.com/Presentation-Tips/PowerPointers/10-Tips-To-Preventing- PowerPoint-Pitfalls/Asking_for_help.jpg

42. Follow these guidelines for a “painless” term paper!