Searching+for+Information

SEARCHING FOR INFORMATION
SEARCHING FOR INFORMATION PRESENTATION

Below is a powerpoint of the class presentation on Searching for Information:

You will be using a Search Planning Sheet to help you to 1) identify keywords; 2) use Boolean operators to plan and execute your search; 3) assess your results to identify important details, additional keywords and links; and 4) refine your search and do it again!!

USING RESEARCH DATABASES

For the most part you will rely heavily on the CPS research database. Specificially, the [|Gale Research Databases]. The databases listed here are the same as those listed on your bright orange databases sheet. You will need the passwords that are printed on the orange sheets to access some of the databases.


 * Useful CPS Databases for Research**

Student Resources in Context--Use the **Power Search** feature that we learned about in class.

[|Newsbank]--Some Chicago Newspapers

[|Teen Health and Wellness Database]--Great resource for comprehensive information on many topics with links to additional resources.


 * NEW! USA Today online edition** //(available April 16th)//

USA Today online

use the login and password: manley

BOOKS, E-BOOKS and VIRTUAL REFERENCE

BOOKS and E-BOOKS: Our school library at Manley has many "issues" books on topics such as Teen Pregnancy, Gun Control, Global Warming, Human Trafficking, etc. These books often contain useful statistics and bibliographies and websites for further information. Additionally, the CPS Department of Libraries has recently made thousands of e-books available for you to use. Many of these books offer current information on social issues and other popular research topics. To use e-books, you will search the SOAR Library catalog and access the e-books directly through SOAR, using our school's 4-digit code (Ms. Kunc will tell you what this is).

VIRTUAL REFERENCE: The Gale Virtual Reference Librarycontains several electronic reference books. Some titles include: //Africa : An Encyclopedia for Students; Countries and their Cultures; Encyclopedia of World Biography; Macmillan Encyclopedia of Energy; Modern American Literature.//

USING THE FREE WORLD WIDE WEB

You will be using research databases to find magazine and scholarly journal articles related to your topic, but you may also need to use the free Internet, which can unfortunately be full of misinformation as well. It is important to ensure that you evaluate your Internet sources using the CRAP test: ** Currency, Reliability, Authority, and Purpose .** Use these additional guides to help you determine if your website is usable:
 * [|Five criteria for evaluating web sites]
 * [|Five W's of website evaluation]
 * [|Checklist for Evaluating Websites]
 * [|The C.R.A.P. Test]


 * Some Useful Web Sources:**

Ms. Kunc's Helpful Links
 * [|Sweet Search] (search engine) **
 * [|Pros and Cons of Controversial Issues] **
 * [|Librarians' Index to the Internet] **
 * Google (SEARCH, don't surf!) **

Use some of the EXCELLENT resources found on the Helpful Links page to find facts, statistics, and additional information

Instead of Googling your search, try going directly to the Internet Public Library and look for a site to search **within**. Oftentimes search engines will not find the most relevant pieces of information on a topic because the information is **within** a database or website. You can also google a general topic and add "database" to your search to find clearinghouse and other data sources for your topic.
 * A Note About the Invisible Web**

STATISTICS

Statistics are often important to support your argument when writing persuasively, but they are not always easy to find.

Use the sites on the Helpful Links page to find data, statistics, and research on lots of topics such as child abuse, prisons, poverty, alcohol, drug abuse, technology, etc.

Here is another guide to finding statistics on the Web:

Internet Public Library: Finding Statistics

OTHER //Film, Television Series, Radio, Experts...//

Where else might you find information on your topic? How will you determine which are your BEST sources? How you will locate the information you need within each source? How will you know what information is useful?

If you do not already have a Chicago Public Library card in good standing, you should GET ONE! Click here for a map of locations.


 * Multimedia**--video, radio, podcasts,etc. Available using most of the CPS Research Databases.
 * Experts**--Interviews also can be excellent sources of information.

**TAKING NOTES and KEEPING TRACK OF SOURCES **

SOURCE CARDS: To keep track of your research, you will be recording the sources that you use and notes that you take on ** SOURCE CARDS (assignment #3) ** **SOURCE CARDS (assignment #2).**

You should use the color-coded source cards provided to you in class for the three major types of sources: Article in Online Database, Book, and General Website.



EASY BIB: As you collect relevant sources that you plan to use in your paper. You should enter them into your Easy Bib account. Below are steps to **create an Easy Bib account**:

1.Go to [|www.easybib.com] 2. Select "Register" and create an account with Easy Bib (do not use Facebook to sign in). Remember your password. 3. You will need to confirm your email at some point. 4. Start a New Project and name it. 5. Begin adding your citations and annotations by selecting the appropriate type or resource.

You will be required to turn in your ** ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY (assignment #5) ** **ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY (assignment #4)** once you have compiled and annotated all of your sources. An annotation (In Easy Bib you will click on the "Add Annotation" button for each source) is a brief summary of the article and explanation of how it is particularly useful for your specific topic. Here is an example of an Annotated Bibliography:

**http://easybib.com/key/7c6c46**


 * SOURCE SUMMARY (assignment #4) ****SOURCE SUMMARY (assignment #3)** **: **You are required to use at least ONE article from a CPS online database and complete a Source Summary based on 2-column using the following sheet:



** Think About It... **

<span style="color: #008080; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How will I find the information that I need? <span style="color: #008080; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What are the BEST sources of information for this task? <span style="color: #008080; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How will I determine if my information is credible? <span style="color: #008080; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How and where will I locate my sources? <span style="color: #008080; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How will I find information WITHIN my sources?

<span style="color: #008080; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Eisenberg, Michael. "A Big 6 Skills Overview." Big 6 Information and Technology Skills. 19 Nov 2001. Retrieved 15 Dec 2010. <http://www.big6.com>.