1. Stepping Up to Research at Southwest

4.  Define the task. What is my topic? What do I need to know? What are the key words? Is my topic too broad or too narrow?  Identify the information needed to do the task

5.  Brainstorm all possible sources Where can I find the information? What resources can I use? What is available at Southwest? Try the online catalog!!!  Select the best sources

6.  Locate sources Is it on the shelf … where? Is it in a database … which one?  Find information within sources Is my topic in the index? Is this a good source?

7.  Engage (read, hear, view or touch) Do I understand the information?  Take out needed information Have I answered my topic question? Do I need more information?  Cite your sources

8.  Organize information from all sources i.e. Notes, outlines, graphic organizers. Summarize and use your own words  Create a product or performance

9.  Judge the product or performance How do I think I did? What would I do differently next time?  Judge the process (efficiency) How can I be more efficient?

10. Good Questions for Research Use these keywords: Why What Where When Who How

11. Good Research Questions challenge you to higher levels of thinking. Compare Judge Justify Hypothesize Infer Assess Compare Judge Justify Hypothesize Infer Assess Rank Distinguish Contrast Predict Analyze Defend

12. Where Can I Find the Information I Need?  Go to the Southwest Homepage http://lsw.lps.org  Click on Media Center  Go to the Southwest Homepage http://lsw.lps.org  Click on Media Center

13. Where to begin? A reference book? A database? An internet site designated by your teacher? An internet search? A reference book? A database? An internet site designated by your teacher? An internet search?

14. Databases? Research 101

15. Best Bets for History ABC-CLIO, Gale Virtual Reference Library, Discovering Collection, World Book Online

16. Best Bets for Geography ABC-CLIO, CultureGrams, Country Reports, CIA - The World Factbook, World Book Online

17. Best Bets for Biography Biography Reference Bank, Gale Student Resources, Gale Virtual Reference, Discovering Collection

18. Best Bets for Literature NoveList, Literature Resources, NebraskAccess’ Fiction Connection, TeachingBooks.Net, Online Catalogs

19. Current Events Gale Student Resources, ABC-CLIO Issues Use the Current Events on our Website!

20. Everything Else. Gale Science Resources, Opposing Viewpoints, Points of View, Teen Health and Wellness!

21. When you have your information…. Record all the sources you use on documentation forms Log in and use NoodleTools to create your Works Cited (you should set up your account at Southwest; no password is needed) Record all the sources you use on documentation forms Log in and use NoodleTools to create your Works Cited (you should set up your account at Southwest; no password is needed)