Northwest High School Library Media Information Center Research Orientation

How to Search Choosing the right search terms is important! You may need to think of synonyms or related terms (words or phrases that mean almost the same thing). You may need to expand or narrow your topic.

Example – Related Topics TOPIC: Recycling –Garbage –Waste management –Landfills –Pollution –Environmentalism Write down your topic on the handout and list as many related words and phrases as you can think of.

Example – Expanding or Narrowing Is your topic general or specific? Write it on one of the lines on your handout, then come up with broader or more narrow topics that you could use as search terms. Environmental issues ____________________ Global warming _______________ Effect of cars _________ Hybrid cars

Research Questions Begin your research with questions in mind. Examples: How does hybrid technology reduce fuel consumption? Does driving a hybrid car significantly reduce factors that lead to global warming? What is the battery life of the hybrid cars? What is the environmental effect of disposing the batteries? On your handout, write at least three questions that you want to answer in your research.

LMIC Wiki

Resources

OPAC Start by opening the Follett’s Application folder on the desktop.

OPAC Next, click on the icon to open OPAC.

OPAC You can search by author, title, subject or keyword. Unless you know the specific author or title you are searching for, it is best to start out with a keyword search. It is best to use a fairly broad search term or short phrase. For example, type global warming in to the search box and click keyword (or hit enter).

OPAC From this screen, we can tell a lot about each record (book, web site, etc.)

The type column tells us whether the record is a web link, a book, a vertical file or a video tape.

The next columns tell us the title, author, and year of publication.

The next column tells us the call number – you will need to know this in order to find the book on the shelves.

The last column tells you the status of the book – whether or not it is available for check out.

OPAC – Call numbers The number will tell you where to find the book on the shelves. A call number that begins with a number instead of a letter is nonfiction. Look at the signs hanging from the ceiling in order to find the right spot on the shelf.

OPAC – Call Numbers = Nonfiction R = Reference VF = Vertical File F = Fiction B = Biography VR = Video Recording C = Career J = Jackdaw

Which of these pieces of information is the most valuable in deciding whether or not a book would be useful when writing a problem-solution essay? Write down the three you think are most important. Type of record (i.e., book, video recording, etc.) Title Author Year of publication Call Number Status (whether or not the book is available)

Which of these books would be most helpful for a problem- solution essay on global warming? Put a start next to the three you think would be best.

This gives us more information about the book. Read the summary to decide if you think the book would be helpful. If so, write down the call number and go to the shelves to find it!

If you are having trouble finding a book on your topic, you may want to go back to the LMIC wiki and look at the list of call numbers for common persuasive research topics.

Online Research

Online Research When should you use Wikipedia? Informal research Research on a topic of personal interest (something you are just curious about) When should you use online subscription databases or pre-selected web sites? Formal research School papers, projects, etc.

Wikipedia By definition a “wiki” is a collaborative website that allows users to create content and modify existing content.

Wikipedia For this reason, Wikipedia is not considered an appropriate source for most academic research. Instead of using the Wikipedia article, try using the web sites that are listed as references at the end of the article.

Reliable Online Sources World Book Web – An online encyclopedia available through EBSCOhost – A database of magazine and newspaper articles available through Issues & Controversies – A subscription database of articles on controversial issues.

INFOhio: A reliable source of information on the Web Go to You can access this resource at home too! User: learn Password: infohio

Click on Core Collection to get started.

INFOhio: World Book Web This is a good place to start. You will find good general information in the encyclopedia articles and links to reliable websites. Click on World Book Advanced to get started.

Let’s try a search on the topic of global warming.

You will get a variety of different results. Click on the first encyclopedia article link.

Each World Book Online article includes a citation at the end of the article

Check out the links under Related Information to find additional resources.

INFOhio: EBSCOhost – Use the EBSCOhost database to find magazine and journal articles on your topic. Click on the button that says EBSCOhost

Go to the Student Research Center

EBSCOhost Type your term in the search box to get started.

EBSCOhost

Click “Citation” to get the information you will need for your works cited page.

Issues & Controversies USER: northwesths PASS: knights

Issues & Controversies There are three ways to get started:

Citations are included at the end of each article.

Recommended Internet Sources: NY Times Topics

Recommended Internet Sources: ProCon.org

NWHS Staff/Student Book Club

Thank You! If you need help using any of these resources, you can ask Ms. Miller or Mrs. Durbec. Remember, the LMIC is open each day 7:00-3:00!