 You will need 2-3 sources for your research paper.  Sources must include the following types: -A print source  -A website -An online article

 A PRINT source is any piece of information in a tangible form. (You can hold it in your hands.)  Examples: Books, Magazines, Newspapers, Professional Journals, Encyclopedias  PRINT sources CANNOT be found online!

 Any information found on the Internet from a credible website.  We will discuss “credible” at a later time.  Examples of these sites include: pbs.org; cnn.com; newsweek.com; historychannel.com

FIRST…. we must answer the question… WHAT IS A DATABASE?

 A database is a place where information is organized and stored.  Our school keeps a database that organizes and stores all students’ personal information.  Grocery stores keep databases that organize and store the amounts of products they have on the shelves.

 Databases can be used for anything.  There are now online databases that are used to store information.  Some of these databases organize and store written information like news articles and professional articles.

 Other online databases can be used as “people finders.”  We can think of these online information databases as large virtual filing cabinets we use to keep track of every article ever written.  Different online databases focus on different topics.

 Our media center provides us with access to “The Alabama Virtual Library.”  The AVL houses many useful databases that you will use in your research. 

It is an article from one of these AVL listed databases. Wait….we can’t stop there…let’s talk about ARTICLE TYPES.

 Newspapers and Magazines: › These periodicals are for any member of the general public. › They feature articles written by journalists for information and entertainment purposes. › They are fairly cheap to purchase.  Professional Journal: › This type of periodical is only meant for professionals in a certain field like doctors, lawyers, and educators. › It features heavily researched articles written by doctors, lawyers, and educators for other doctors, lawyers, and educators in order to inform them on new developments in the field. › These journals are delivered to subscribers at a very high cost.

 This is an article found on a database (for your purposes) located on AVL. › An example of an AVL database would be EBSCO or Brittanica.  All of these articles on these databases should be from some sort of professional journal or publication. › For example: One might find an article on the General Hannibal that was written by an Oxford professor of military history and published in The Journal of Military History and filed on the EBSCO database on AVL.

 Number one thing…DON’T panic! During the research unit, we will help you work through this information.  Make sure you understand that you must have each type of source represented in your paper which means you MUST have at least one cited piece of text evidence from each source.