Student+Research+Page

Some research guidelines for Students:

a. Can I state my search problem in a specific, clear question? b. What type of information do I need? c. How much information do I need? What do I know?
 * 1. Identify the problem – refine the topic **

a. Do I need a topic directory or a search engine or a database? b. Does my choice cover my subject? c. Does it contain the formats I need to answer my questions? (newspapers, magazines, primary sources, encyclopedia) d. Can I understand the information contained in it?
 * 2. Select appropriate tools – search plan **

a. What are my major concepts? b. What synonyms, broader or narrower terms, or related ideas could I use? c. How will I express keywords with Boolean operators (AND +, OR, NOT -, “ ”)? d. Should I be concerned about plurals or other forms of words? e. Are there any proper names (people or places) that would focus my search? f. Have I spelled everything correctly? g. Would changing the order of my words be helpful?
 * 3. Brainstorm keywords **

a. Are my hits relevant, readable, accessible? b. Have I used all the strategies I planned to use? c. Have I tried different combinations of keywords? d. Should I use broader or narrower terms? f. Did I spell my search terms correctly? g. Do I need to ask the teacher/ librarian for a resource? h. "Will my topic work”? Should I consider another?
 * 4. Refine the search online (Searching is an interactive process!) **

a. How relevant were my hits? b. Which of the hits are the best quality of information? (most relevant, timely, credible, readable, available, and promote the point of view I support or show others if desired) c. Are there additional keyword clues in my printouts for additional searches? d. Did I select the best possible sources or should I look for others? Have I excluded any area of coverage? e. Do I have enough resources and the right type to begin writing?
 * 5. Evaluate the search offline; ask, “What if?” **

· Books – nonfiction · Reference Books · Encyclopedias – online Databases · Subject directories –these sites have been selected by experts [|__www.lii.org__] [|__www.kidsclick.org__] [|__www.yaho__] oligans.com [|__www.ipl.org__] go to kids space or teen space
 * Resources: **

Primary Sources: original documents Library of Congress - Loc.gov
 * Facts /statistics **

·Websites: Cyber school bus [] United Nations statistics division [|www.fedstats.gov] more than 70 agencies from the US government [|www.geohive.com/] country profiles and stats, capitols etc. __ http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/ __ CIA World Fact Book [|www.almanac.com] Farmers Almanac [|www.loc.gov] Library of Congress [|www.census.gov/] US Census Bureau

· **Magazine/Journal articles** online databases

[|newspaper] databases Historical Colorado Papers, Denver public library database ·  [|www.cnn.com] [|http://newslinki.org] newspapers, broadcasters, magazines [|www.pbs.org] public broadcasting station __ http://www.nytimes.com/learning/students/index.html __ New York Times learning network
 * Newspapers **
 * Web News sources **

[|www.bartleby.com] quotations [|www.faganfinder.com] quotation, clichés, proverbs · · Biographies – Books in 921 arranged by subject’s last name · · Websites [|www.amillionlives.com] [|www.celebrityalmanac.com] [|www.IPL.org] biography section [|www.s9.com/biography/]
 * Quotations **
 * Biographical information **

· Maps · Atlases · Online sources [|www.nationalgeographic.com/]
 * Geographical information **

International/Foreign Countries · · Websites: [|www.geohive.com/] country profiles and stats, capitols etc.  [|www.culturegrams.com] online subscription at TBS for country profiles __ http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/ __ CIA world fact book [|www.loc.gov] Library of Congress go to "global gateways", go to" portals of the world", OR country studies [|www.census.gov/] US Census Bureau [|www.nationmaster.com] [|www.nationby] nation.com [|www.nara.gov] National Archives [|www.un.org] United Nations home page

Asian Countries [|www.asiasource.com] [|www.Askasia.org]

Science

Environmental Information portal [] **SciCentral** [] A clearinghouse for science information
 * Chemicool ** Periodic elements table and information []
 * National Science Digital Library Collection ** [|**http://nsdl.org/collections/**]
 * Science World ** [|http://scienceworld.wolfram.com] **__/__**
 * Scientific American: ** [|http://www.sciam.com/]
 * Smithsonian **** Museum ** [|www.si.edu]
 * The Exploratorium ** [|www.exploratorium.edu] Home page of the famous San Francisco Exploratorium.
 * The Franklin Institute Science Museum ** []
 * The Worldwide Museum of Natural History ** [] Wide variety of information on the natural world, especially for geology and related fields.

· **Timelines** [|www.timelines.ws]

· African American History [|www.balckhistory.com] American Civil War __http://www.sunsite.utk.edu/civil-war__ Best History Sites: __www.ushistory.org__ Digital History: __www.digitalhistory.uh.edu__ Fifty States & Capitols [|www.50states.com] Historical Photographs and Images __http://teachpol.tcnj.edu/amer_pol_hist__ History Channel www.history __channel.com__ Internet Public Library - Potus Project - Presidents of the United States [|http://www.potus.com] Librarians’ Internet Index __www.lii.org__ Library of Congress American Memory Collection [|www.loc.gov] __http://www.memory.loc.gov/ammem/ammemhome.html__ National Archives: __www.archives.gov__ Native Americans __www.nativeweb.org__ PBS Online __http://www.pbs.org/history__ Presidents __http://www.pbs.org/wnet/amerpres__ The History Net: __www.historynet.com__ The History Place [|www.historyplace.com] Browse by table of contents, subject, keyword, or title.
 * Historical Sources **

·  [|www.picturehisto] __ry.com/__ 200 American images [|www.loc.gov] library of congress photos [|www.iconn.org] database of images
 * Photographs/images: **