What’s Next? Why are we here and what are we going to do? Why are we here and what are we going to do?

4 months – graduation 6 months - college

Today we will review the stuff you need to know to complete this project, but may have forgotten along the way. (And, some stuff we want to make sure you know before you go off to college!)

Why? What will I be asked to do in college classes? Write research papers of different types

What’s a research paper? Here’s a good website that goes over how to write a research paper -

You might even need to take a *TEST* on how well you find and use Information!

Searching? Let’s review where you can find information…

Google and What can I use besides Google? Here’s a list:

Review question #1: What’s the difference between free Web search tools and subscription databases?

Subscription Search Tools: “Virtual Libraries” History Resource Center Literature Resource Center Opposing Viewpoints Science Resource Center

When you get to college there will be 100s of these database resources available Find databases by title

Review question #2: How can I choose the right search tools for my research?

Here are 2 lists you can use to help you choose Choosing the Best Search Tool (Debbie Abilock) ion/5locate/adviceengine.html ion/5locate/adviceengine.html ion/5locate/adviceengine.html Getting Started: Selecting a Tool for your Search

Google Book SearchGoogle Book Search – Google Book Search Search the full text of books Google ScholarGoogle Scholar – Google Scholar Search scholarly papers And so many other choices on the Google site Even has choices -

Review question # 3: When you are using a search engine or database, did you know you have other searching choices?

Simple Search Screen Click here for more precision and power!

Advanced Search Screen

Simple screen in a database

Advanced screen in a database

Some databases and search engines also offer subject / topic cues or clusters

Subject headings or descriptors in databases Use the language and structure of the database to gather relevant materials

Review question # 4 What are Boolean operators? Rockwell Schrock’s Boolean Machine

How important AND is!!!

When do you really need OR? OR is generally used for synonyms or related words.

NOT as a refinement technique for problem words eagles NOT Philadelphia “Martin Luther” NOT King

STOP the insanity! Stop using stop words in your searches! in, of, the, a, to, you, why, who, what, on, than, then, their, an, his, her, be STOP

Google doesn’t care, but a database does! Google ignores stop words and assumes an AND between words

“Phrase searching” One of your best searching tools - Use only for legitimate phrases, names, titles Best example -- “vitamin A” “John Quincy Adams” Titles such as “An Officer and a Gentleman” “to be or not to be” REMEMBER: not every group of words is a phrase Sometimes “ANDing” is a better strategy

And just a few more little tricks…

Search / filter by media type Phrase searching – using quote marks Searching by media type and using phrases

Don’t forget the tabs across the top of the page!

Help screens can help Google Help Center There’s even a cheat sheet* you can print out from this page to help you search Find the link on your half sheet handout *find the link on the handout

When might you use Wikipedia?

#2 Do you know what this means?

Remember when you search... What types of sources does your instructor want you to use? Primary sources?Primary sources? Scholarly sources?Scholarly sources? Popular sources?Popular sources? Trade journals?Trade journals? Images?Images? Print?Print? Electronic?Electronic? What’s the difference?

What do you have to cite and how do you make a citation? Everything you use that someone else has created, including words, music, pictures & IDEAS! You can use these “citation makers” : or Also, check under “Citing Sources” or “Plagiarism” Library research

Online, offline School, Academic or Public Librarians can really help, so please ask!

Senior English Project Wiki

Tell a story Death by PowerPoint And finally, a humorous moment - how NOT to PowerPoint

Questions? Created by Janet HasBrouck at Arcadia High School – Spring 2010