*Define your task
Ask the following questions:
What is the assignment?
—What is the essential question?
—What is my hypothesis/thesis statement? (Pre-research / Post-research)
Brainstorm ideas / begin looking for information and see what develops
--Is there enough information to do justice to my topic?
For More information:
Ask the following questions:
What is the assignment?
—What is the essential question?
—What is my hypothesis/thesis statement? (Pre-research / Post-research)
Brainstorm ideas / begin looking for information and see what develops
--Is there enough information to do justice to my topic?
For More information:
*Locate and Access Sources
Where will I find the best sources?
—How will I access the sources?
Ask a librarian for help
—Consider print sources as well as the Internet.
—Online, will you use the free web or a database
(called the “deep web” or “invisible web”)
Use a search engine when you:
—Want to go to a specific website
—Have a narrow or unusual topic or have several keywords
—Want to retrieve a large number of documents for your topic
—Want government information and forms
—Want to search for particular types of documents, file types, languages, etc.
—Are willing to evaluate the web site’s content?
Use databases when you want:
—Newspaper articles
—Magazines/journal articles
—Encylopedia articles
—Biographical information
—Published material that has gone through a review and editing process, ensuring a greater likelihood of accuracy and reliability!
Where will I find the best sources?
—How will I access the sources?
Ask a librarian for help
—Consider print sources as well as the Internet.
—Online, will you use the free web or a database
(called the “deep web” or “invisible web”)
Use a search engine when you:
—Want to go to a specific website
—Have a narrow or unusual topic or have several keywords
—Want to retrieve a large number of documents for your topic
—Want government information and forms
—Want to search for particular types of documents, file types, languages, etc.
—Are willing to evaluate the web site’s content?
Use databases when you want:
—Newspaper articles
—Magazines/journal articles
—Encylopedia articles
—Biographical information
—Published material that has gone through a review and editing process, ensuring a greater likelihood of accuracy and reliability!
*Information Seeking Strategies and Internet Credibility:
Ask yourself what are the best sources of information for the project.
—Begin by searching the Destiny catalog or LAUSD Digital Library for resources. If you use Google, make sure to use Google Scholar only!
Wikipedia hint: Do not use Wikipedia as a source! If you use it, double check the information with a more reputable source, or use their References list to find sources they used that may be more credible.
—How will I know if the sources are accurate and authoritative?
Consider:
—Who? Qualification of the author/Who is responsible for the page?
—What? Accuracy of information and coverage/Purpose of the page
—Where? Address, design, and technical quality
—When? Currency (date when created/updated)
—Why? Purpose of the information
Can I Trust This Website?
Consider the url extension of the website, but realize that all extensions can contain sites with misinformation:
.edu Educational use, but now primarily for US third level colleges and universities
.gov Governmental use, but now primarily for US governmental entities and agencies
.org Originally for organizations not clearly falling within the other gTLDs, now unrestricted
.net Originally for network infrastructures, now unrestricted
.com Mainly for commercial entities, but unrestricted
Examples of the most popular websites by domain:
Ask yourself what are the best sources of information for the project.
—Begin by searching the Destiny catalog or LAUSD Digital Library for resources. If you use Google, make sure to use Google Scholar only!
Wikipedia hint: Do not use Wikipedia as a source! If you use it, double check the information with a more reputable source, or use their References list to find sources they used that may be more credible.
—How will I know if the sources are accurate and authoritative?
Consider:
—Who? Qualification of the author/Who is responsible for the page?
—What? Accuracy of information and coverage/Purpose of the page
—Where? Address, design, and technical quality
—When? Currency (date when created/updated)
—Why? Purpose of the information
Can I Trust This Website?
Consider the url extension of the website, but realize that all extensions can contain sites with misinformation:
.edu Educational use, but now primarily for US third level colleges and universities
.gov Governmental use, but now primarily for US governmental entities and agencies
.org Originally for organizations not clearly falling within the other gTLDs, now unrestricted
.net Originally for network infrastructures, now unrestricted
.com Mainly for commercial entities, but unrestricted
Examples of the most popular websites by domain:
Regardless of the url extension, you must still beware of these Internet dangers:
Internet hoaxes (spoofs, parodies)
The perpetuation of urban legends
Scams and frauds
Hate sites
Learn to spot the fakes!
Examples of fake websites featuring nearly all url extensions:
Internet hoaxes (spoofs, parodies)
The perpetuation of urban legends
Scams and frauds
Hate sites
Learn to spot the fakes!
Examples of fake websites featuring nearly all url extensions:
Performing Effective Searches:
Cluster/Brainstorm your topic.
OR
Begin by writing a sentence about your topic:
I want to do my project about some kind of ocean mammal such as whales or dolphins.
Pull out key words/ phrases:
Ocean mammal, whales, dolphins
Expand your list with synonyms and related words:
Ocean-sea-marine
Mammals-arm-blooded animals
Ocean mammal-marine mammal
Dolphins-porpoises
ETC.
Expanding Your Search
Consider:
Are there larger or smaller categories you could use?
—Larger categories:
—Ocean Mammal-ocean life, marine life, mammals, animals
—Smaller categories
—Whales-blue whale, killer whale, humpback whale
—Dolphins-bottle nose dolphin
--
Now you have a list of terms to begin searching for information:
—Synonyms and related terms
—Ocean, sea, marine, ocean mammal, marine mammal, whales, cetaceans, dolphins, porpoises
—Larger Categories
—Ocean life, marine life, mammals, animals
—Smaller Categories
—Blue whale, killer whale, humpback whale, bottle nose dolphin
TIPS:
Search Only the First 10-15 Links on a Database or Search Engine's Results Page
Look for Links at the Top, Bottom and Sides Before Reading the Material on a Website
Use the Function to Search the Webpage for Keywords (Mac: command + F key; PC: ctrl + F key)
Skim and Scan Potential Sources
Frustrated? Stop After 15 Minutes and Try a NEW Approach
Practice this process using the word you are researching. Post your synonyms and categories to the padlet page below so that you can share ideas with you classmates. We will review tomorrow.
