Tools to help with research:
1 TASK DEFINITION
1.1 Define the information problem
1.2 Identify information needed· What is the assignment?
2 INFORMATION SEEKING STRATEGIES
2.1 Determine all possible sources
2.2 Select the best sources
3 LOCATION AND ACCESS
3.1 Locate sources
3.2 Find information within sources
4 USE OF INFORMATION
4.1 Engage (Read, Hear, View, Touch)
4.2 Extract relevant information
5 SYNTHESIS
5.1 Organize from multiple sources
5.2 Present the information
6. EVALUATION
6.1 Judge the product (effective)
6.2 Judge the process (efficient)
1.1 Define the information problem
1.2 Identify information needed· What is the assignment?
- · What information do I need to include?
- · What is the problem that I am trying to solve?
- · What is the title of my project?
2 INFORMATION SEEKING STRATEGIES
2.1 Determine all possible sources
2.2 Select the best sources
- · What books should I use?
- · Can my I find information in magazines and newspapers?
- · What are the keywords and search terms I need to use?
- · What websites and databases should I use?
3 LOCATION AND ACCESS
3.1 Locate sources
3.2 Find information within sources
- · Find books in the Library Media Center and the Public Library
- · Use the Internet and approved Search Engines to look for authoritative websites
- · Use NC WiseOwl to find Databases online
- · Use my textbook for further information
- · Use letters and a personal interview for Primary Source information
4 USE OF INFORMATION
4.1 Engage (Read, Hear, View, Touch)
4.2 Extract relevant information
- · How will I take notes and record information?
- · How will I give credit to the sources I use?
- · All assignments should include a bibliography from a variety of media materials
- · What specific information is worth using?
5 SYNTHESIS
5.1 Organize from multiple sources
5.2 Present the information
- · Organize information and plan the final product
- · Use a strategy to assist with note taking and organizing information
- · Explore many different types of products
- · Who is the target audience?
6. EVALUATION
6.1 Judge the product (effective)
6.2 Judge the process (efficient)
- · Is my project complete?
- · Did I meet each requirement?
- · Did I use reliable sources of information?
- · What would I do differently next time?
- · Did I do my best work?
2 Evaluating Sources
When you search the Web, you’re going to find a lot of information . . . but is it accurate and reliable? You will have to determine this for yourself, and the CRAAP Test can help. The CRAAP Test is a list of questions you can ask yourself in order to determine if the information on a web site is reliable.
Please keep in mind that the following list of questions is not the only thing to take into consideration. Different criteria will be more or less important depending on your situation or need. So, what are you waiting for? Is your web site credible and useful, or is it a bunch of . . . ! Check out this site: Northwest Tree Octopus How to Evaluate Websources http://mjmora.blogspot.com/2013/11/evaluating-sources.html The CRAAP Test Worksheet |
|
3 Keywords
One way to focus your research is to develop a list of keywords. Keywords can be ideas, people and events that relate to the big picture of your search.
You can use keywords
Boolean Operators:
You can also use the words, AND, OR and NOT to help with your searches, especially in databases and search engines. They work the same way as they do when you use them in conversation:
Expand your search:
4 Citing Sources
Use Easybib to help cite your papers!
plagiarism
pla·gia·rism [pley-juh-riz-uhm, -jee-uh-riz-] noun. An act or instance of using or closely imitating the language and thoughts of another author without authorization and the representation of that author's work as one's own, as by not crediting the original author. Synonyms:appropriation, infringement, piracy, counterfeiting; theft, borrowing, cribbing, passing off.
Works Cited Page - a page that list all of the resources you USED in your research product; found at the end of a document.
In Text or Parenthetical Citation: Citing the source of the information within the text of the research paper/product. This lets your teacher know exactly what information came from what source.
example: http://www.aresearchguide.com/sampleparenth.html
Generally, you want to provide the last name of the author and the specific page numbers of the source. If such information is already given in the body of the sentence, then exclude it from the parenthetical citation.
Annotated Bibliography:
An annotated bibliography is a list of citations to books, articles, and documents. Each citation is followed by a brief (usually about 150 words) descriptive and evaluative paragraph, the annotation. The purpose of the annotation is to inform the reader of the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the sources cited.
You should answer these three questions:
1. Why is this source credible? (what authority does it have?)
2. What is the source about? (how is it relevant?)
3. How will I use the information?
Use Easybib to help cite your papers!
5 Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing is putting the ideas of an author into your own words. Paraphrasing helps the quality of your paper by explaining another person’s thoughts in your own writing style, improving the flow and readability.
Tips for effective paraphrasing:
"Although the okapi resembles a zebra, it is actually a close cousin to the giraffe. Discovered in 1900, it inhabits the rain forests of the Congo area in Africa. Okapis tend to be solitary animals, secretive in their habits."
Think aloud as you look away from the text above and paraphrase these sentences.
For example, you might say, "Okay, I have read this; now I need to think about it and put it into my own words. That will help me know that I have understood it, and it will help me remember it. Let's see, the okapi looks like a zebra, but it is kin to the giraffe. They found it in Africa in 1900, but that was hard because it lives alone and is hard to find. Now, let's check and see if I remembered the information and put it into my own words." Reread the sentences and compare them to your paraphrase.
notes_sample.pdf Download File
MLA Guide EasyBib Parenthetical Citation Quick Cite Guide
6 Databases Versus Websites
User-generated content is information that was not written by experts, professionals, or journalists. User-generated content is not always terrible, but you shouldn't trust the information with out investigating it further, and you probably shouldn't use it in your research paper.
Much of the Invisible Web is "invisible" because you need an account or a password to access it. It can also be because the information is contained in a database or a directory. The Invisible Web is not a top secret portal to a faster version of the Internet, but rather a huge part of the Internet that you can not easily access
Why Should You Use Databases? There are many reasons why you should use databases for research. Here are three big ones:
NCwiseowl
NCwiseowl is a tool provided by North Carolina for all of the students in NC. WiseOwl’s subscription databases provide access to articles from thousands of magazines, from online encyclopedias and reference sources, and from a variety of other sources that are only available to paying customers.
Because this is a resource for the students of North Carolina and only for the students of North Carolina it is password protected. Please see Mrs. Flash for the password to access the site!
Remember, you must be a wiseowl to use NCwiseowl! :)
7 Tools for writing...
Easybib guide to ResearchGoogle Search Star
Thesis Statement:
Form a Thesis Statement When you have questions after thinking about what you already know, you can use those questions to form a thesis statement, or hypothesis, which will structure the rest of your research strategy.
A thesis statement is a prediction or possible explanation of why something happens (or happened).
One way to focus your research is to develop a list of keywords. Keywords can be ideas, people and events that relate to the big picture of your search.
You can use keywords
- When using search engines (results are partially ranked by keyword)
- With database searches
- Paired with Boolean operators to improve your results
Boolean Operators:
You can also use the words, AND, OR and NOT to help with your searches, especially in databases and search engines. They work the same way as they do when you use them in conversation:
Expand your search:
- AND - includes all of the words: dogs and puppies- this will give results with information on both dogs and cats
- OR - includes one of the other: dogs or cats - will give information on either dogs OR puppies
- NOT - will provide information on only the first term, not the second. dogs NOT puppies
4 Citing Sources
Use Easybib to help cite your papers!
plagiarism
pla·gia·rism [pley-juh-riz-uhm, -jee-uh-riz-] noun. An act or instance of using or closely imitating the language and thoughts of another author without authorization and the representation of that author's work as one's own, as by not crediting the original author. Synonyms:appropriation, infringement, piracy, counterfeiting; theft, borrowing, cribbing, passing off.
Works Cited Page - a page that list all of the resources you USED in your research product; found at the end of a document.
In Text or Parenthetical Citation: Citing the source of the information within the text of the research paper/product. This lets your teacher know exactly what information came from what source.
example: http://www.aresearchguide.com/sampleparenth.html
Generally, you want to provide the last name of the author and the specific page numbers of the source. If such information is already given in the body of the sentence, then exclude it from the parenthetical citation.
Annotated Bibliography:
An annotated bibliography is a list of citations to books, articles, and documents. Each citation is followed by a brief (usually about 150 words) descriptive and evaluative paragraph, the annotation. The purpose of the annotation is to inform the reader of the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the sources cited.
You should answer these three questions:
1. Why is this source credible? (what authority does it have?)
2. What is the source about? (how is it relevant?)
3. How will I use the information?
Use Easybib to help cite your papers!
5 Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing is putting the ideas of an author into your own words. Paraphrasing helps the quality of your paper by explaining another person’s thoughts in your own writing style, improving the flow and readability.
Tips for effective paraphrasing:
- The statement must be in your own words.
- If you use any phrases that are in the original quote, place them in quotation marks.
- Add a citation—even if a paraphrase is in your own words, it is still someone else’s idea.
- If you’re having difficulty paraphrasing, make a short list of the quote’s main idea(s) and words that relate to it. Incorporate these concepts and words in your paraphrase.
"Although the okapi resembles a zebra, it is actually a close cousin to the giraffe. Discovered in 1900, it inhabits the rain forests of the Congo area in Africa. Okapis tend to be solitary animals, secretive in their habits."
Think aloud as you look away from the text above and paraphrase these sentences.
For example, you might say, "Okay, I have read this; now I need to think about it and put it into my own words. That will help me know that I have understood it, and it will help me remember it. Let's see, the okapi looks like a zebra, but it is kin to the giraffe. They found it in Africa in 1900, but that was hard because it lives alone and is hard to find. Now, let's check and see if I remembered the information and put it into my own words." Reread the sentences and compare them to your paraphrase.
notes_sample.pdf Download File
MLA Guide EasyBib Parenthetical Citation Quick Cite Guide
6 Databases Versus Websites
User-generated content is information that was not written by experts, professionals, or journalists. User-generated content is not always terrible, but you shouldn't trust the information with out investigating it further, and you probably shouldn't use it in your research paper.
Much of the Invisible Web is "invisible" because you need an account or a password to access it. It can also be because the information is contained in a database or a directory. The Invisible Web is not a top secret portal to a faster version of the Internet, but rather a huge part of the Internet that you can not easily access
Why Should You Use Databases? There are many reasons why you should use databases for research. Here are three big ones:
- Items found in databases are written by experts or professional writers.
- Databases search fewer items than search engines, making your research more manageable.
- It has a librarian's approval as a useful resource!
NCwiseowl
NCwiseowl is a tool provided by North Carolina for all of the students in NC. WiseOwl’s subscription databases provide access to articles from thousands of magazines, from online encyclopedias and reference sources, and from a variety of other sources that are only available to paying customers.
Because this is a resource for the students of North Carolina and only for the students of North Carolina it is password protected. Please see Mrs. Flash for the password to access the site!
Remember, you must be a wiseowl to use NCwiseowl! :)
7 Tools for writing...
Easybib guide to ResearchGoogle Search Star
Thesis Statement:
Form a Thesis Statement When you have questions after thinking about what you already know, you can use those questions to form a thesis statement, or hypothesis, which will structure the rest of your research strategy.
A thesis statement is a prediction or possible explanation of why something happens (or happened).