Your next step is to find the best
resources.
Brainstorm for the types of materials that would be most
helpful.
Books – information that does not change rapidly (history,
dead persons)
Encyclopedia – general information (overview)
Magazines – current information (current events, living
persons, science)
Dictionary – definitions
Internet – current information (current events)
Use your list of keywords to search for materials and to check the indexes and tables of contents.
Possible Information
Sources
|
|
·
Print
(books or magazines) Ø Check the online
library catalog using keyword, subject,
title, & author searches Ø Browse the shelves in the library using Dewey
numbers related to your topic |
|
·
Non-print
(videos or CD-ROMs) Check the online library catalog |
|
·
Internet |
|
·
Online databases |
|
·
Conduct
survey |
|
·
Conduct
an interview, in person, via email or by
phone |
Need Primary Materials? Try the
Library of Congress’ American Memory.
Check materials for information to answer your research questions:
·
Scan
materials
·
Check
indexes
·
Check table
of contents
·
Check
boldfaced and italicized type
·
Check
legends of pictures, maps and graphs
If you find too
much information:
Ø
your topic may
be too broad.
Ø
you may
need to select the best materials and not use the rest.
If you do not
find enough information:
Ø
your topic
may be too narrow (but this doesn’t happen very often).
Ø
check the
links on the good site(s) you did find.
Ø
check for
some different terms or synonyms to search for.
Ø
check your
spelling.
Ø
use a
different search engine if you are searching the Web.
Next you must
evaluate your sources. Because anyone
can now publish information on the Internet, you must look at each source to
see if they are good sources. Look at
this site about Mankato,
Minnesota. Do you think Minnesota
has sand beaches with palm trees?
Consider the
following issues for each source:
Evaluation of
Resources
|
|
·
Relevancy
– Does it fit the Research Questions? |
|
·
Timeliness
– How old is the source? Do you need
a newer resource? |
|
·
Readability
– Can you read and understand the material? |
Take a look at Kathleen
Schrock’s guides to evaluating web pages:
Critical
Evaluation Of A Web Site : Elementary School Level
Critical
Evaluation Of A Web Site : Middle School Level
Critical
Evaluation Of A Web Site : High School Level
Technology options are listed in purple.