Academy of Notre Dame Research Essentials

Let’s begin at the beginning… Access Academy of Notre Dame website at:

Library Webpage Under “Academics” click “Connelly Library” from the Notre Dame Homepage Under “Academics” click “Connelly Library” from the Notre Dame Homepage Click “Databases” in left-hand column for a list of library Databases Click “Databases” in left-hand column for a list of library Databases Usernames and passwords are all “ndapa ” Usernames and passwords are all “ndapa ” Other links available in the left-hand column Other links available in the left-hand column Research Project Pathfinders Research Project Pathfinders Student links Student links Need a Good Book? Need a Good Book? Current Events links Current Events links

Pathfinders 3 benefits of pathfinders 3 benefits of pathfinders Identify resources in the library specific to student projects thereby reducing time/legwork required by student Identify resources in the library specific to student projects thereby reducing time/legwork required by student Help librarians to evaluate the collection Help librarians to evaluate the collection Help students learn to develop their own personal pathfinders Help students learn to develop their own personal pathfinders

Pathfinders cont.: Note the layout of a pathfinder: Note the layout of a pathfinder: Call numbers (for browsing shelves) Call numbers (for browsing shelves) Keywords (for searching Library Catalog, Databases, and Internet) Keywords (for searching Library Catalog, Databases, and Internet) Good idea to start with Print resources Good idea to start with Print resources Reference books usually give a nice overview of topic and can provide additional keywords Reference books usually give a nice overview of topic and can provide additional keywords Nonfiction (use Table of Contents and Index) Nonfiction (use Table of Contents and Index)

Pathfinders cont.: Move on to Databases (access from library Web page) Move on to Databases (access from library Web page) Some are subject-specific (Science Online, Teen Health and Wellness, World Geography) Some are subject-specific (Science Online, Teen Health and Wellness, World Geography) Some are general (SIRS, Issues and Controversies, Student Resources In Context) Some are general (SIRS, Issues and Controversies, Student Resources In Context)

Pathfinders (Databases) cont.: Keyword or Browse search Keyword or Browse search Keyword ex. – (enter in search box) “Steroids” or “Doping” or “Performance Enhancing Drugs” or “Hormonal Regulation” Keyword ex. – (enter in search box) “Steroids” or “Doping” or “Performance Enhancing Drugs” or “Hormonal Regulation” Browse ex. – (follow the path) Social Studies – Sociology – Social Issues – Civil Rights (broad to specific) Browse ex. – (follow the path) Social Studies – Sociology – Social Issues – Civil Rights (broad to specific)

Pathfinders cont.: And finally, the Internet: And finally, the Internet: Webpath Express Webpath Express A search engine built into our library catalog A search engine built into our library catalog Only accesses “educator-approved” sites Only accesses “educator-approved” sites Nettrekker Nettrekker A search engine A search engine Only accesses “educator-approved” sites Only accesses “educator-approved” sites Can be found on library Web page with other Databases Can be found on library Web page with other Databases Sweet Search, Infotopia.Info, DuckDuckGo Sweet Search, Infotopia.Info, DuckDuckGo

Internet cont.: Caution when using Google: Caution when using Google: Information on the Internet is not consistently reviewed for accuracy by anyone; therefore….. Information on the Internet is not consistently reviewed for accuracy by anyone; therefore….. There is a lot of inaccurate and biased information There is a lot of inaccurate and biased informationHowever…. There is also a lot of accurate and authoritative information……….you have to make the call (i.e. evaluate) There is also a lot of accurate and authoritative information……….you have to make the call (i.e. evaluate)

Databases vs. the Internet Evaluation Databases Databases Information is educator-approved, quality information Information is educator-approved, quality information You find it, you use it You find it, you use it Internet Internet Information will need to be evaluated for accuracy, bias, and authority by you Information will need to be evaluated for accuracy, bias, and authority by you You find it, you evaluate it, you “possibly” use it You find it, you evaluate it, you “possibly” use itCitations Databases Databases Usually provide citations Usually provide citations Very helpful when preparing Bibliography or Works Cited Very helpful when preparing Bibliography or Works Cited Internet Internet Can be tricky to cite Can be tricky to cite No “standard” in citation information provided No “standard” in citation information provided

Speaking of citations…. NoodleBib NoodleBib Found on library Web page with other Databases under “NoodleTools” Found on library Web page with other Databases under “NoodleTools” MLA and APA Starter, Junior and Advanced MLA and APA Starter, Junior and Advanced Make sure to link your account to Notre Dame for full access (first time login credentials “ndapa”) Make sure to link your account to Notre Dame for full access (first time login credentials “ndapa”)

Citations cont.: Bibliography or Works Cited page Bibliography or Works Cited page Bibliography lists all sources used in the completion of your project Bibliography lists all sources used in the completion of your project Works Cited lists only those works that are specifically cited in your paper Works Cited lists only those works that are specifically cited in your paper

In-Text Citations In-text citations (also called parenthetical citations) In-text citations (also called parenthetical citations) When paraphrasing or using direct quotes in your paper, you must cite “in the text” where the information came from When paraphrasing or using direct quotes in your paper, you must cite “in the text” where the information came from Ties the information in your paper to its source in your bibliography/works cited page Ties the information in your paper to its source in your bibliography/works cited page NoodleBib identifies what an in-text citation should look like after you cite your source NoodleBib identifies what an in-text citation should look like after you cite your source

Notecards Source cards – cite only bibliographic information on these (title, author, publisher, copyright, etc.) Source cards – cite only bibliographic information on these (title, author, publisher, copyright, etc.) Information cards (one idea or thought per card) Information cards (one idea or thought per card) paraphrase/direct quote/original thought paraphrase/direct quote/original thought

Notecards cont.: Assign each Source card a number or letter Assign each Source card a number or letter Give corresponding number or letter to each Information card from that source (see examples available in library) Give corresponding number or letter to each Information card from that source (see examples available in library) Ideal to use a larger or colored index card as your Source card to distinguish from Information cards (see examples available in library) Ideal to use a larger or colored index card as your Source card to distinguish from Information cards (see examples available in library)

Avoid Plagarism Two main reasons to cite your sources Two main reasons to cite your sources First and foremost…..to give credit where credit is due First and foremost…..to give credit where credit is due Secondly, to find a path back to your source Secondly, to find a path back to your source This becomes extremely important with projects requiring a high number of sources to be used This becomes extremely important with projects requiring a high number of sources to be used

Big 6 Research Process Define your topic Define your topic Identify sources Identify sources Locate sources Locate sources Analyze Information Analyze Information Synthesize Information Synthesize Information Evaluate your work Evaluate your work Not a linear process Not a linear process Continually re-visit past steps Spend ample time on first step Spend ample time on first step Pre-research Provides a good foundation upon which to build Step 2 aligns with personal pathfinders Step 2 aligns with personal pathfinders What do I need? Where can I find it? Analyze vs. Synthesize Analyze vs. Synthesize Read what others have to say Organize this information Now, what do you have to say? Evaluation is a type of self- assessment Evaluation is a type of self- assessment Conducted before and after turning assignment in