English research
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Renaissance Research Tips & Tricks Ms. Doyle, District Librarian
description
Why use databases and books? Also, how to use ABC-CLIO history and Gale Powersearch.
Transcript of English research
Renaissance Research Tips & Tricks
Ms. Doyle, District Librarian
Presentation Notes
Please get ready to take notes
Write down words and phrases in red
At the end of presentation, you will have notes A-H
Today’s Topics
A. Objectives:
1. Understand when and why you would use books and databases instead of web sources
2. Use WebCat to locate a book on your subject in the school library
3. Use Gale PowerSearch database to locate relevant biographical information
Database or Internet?Hold up 1 finger if you think database, 2 for Internet
Free to anyone
Paid subscription
Information edited and evaluated
Anyone can publish information
Links can change or disappear
Has more newspaper and magazine articles
Image Attribution: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeeperez/2453225588/
Organized and indexed by professionals
Can search using exact subject headings, dates, etc.
More information on more topics, even if the information might be less reliable
Has more scholarly or academic sources (professional and peer-reviewed journal articles)
Image Attribution: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeeperez/2453225588/
Database or Internet?Hold up 1 finger if you think database, 2 for Internet
Usually include citations for Works Cited list
Easier to access and search
Often difficult to cite; hard to tell who the author/publisher might be
Has most current information, up to a few minutes ago
Database or Internet?Hold up 1 finger if you think database, 2 for Internet
Internet or Book?1 finger for Internet, 2 for book
Usually has the most in-depth information
Usually has more current information
Has been edited
Easier to locate information
Image attribution: http://jccooltech.blogspot.com/2008/04/internet-vs-books.html
B. Use Databases When You Need. . .
Scholarly journals (can also try Google Scholar)
Newspaper articles Magazine articles Encyclopedia articles Biographical information Statistical information
A Note on Wikipedia. . .
Recent studies have rated Wikipedia fairly high on accuracy.
For example, a study by the journal Nature found
• 2.92 mistakes per article for
Encyclopedia Britannica
• 3.86 mistakes per article for Wikipedia.
A Note on Wikipedia. . .
HOWEVER, many teachers and professors do not allow students to cite Wikipedia as a source.
Also:
“[W]e recommend that students check the facts they find in Wikipedia against other sources. Additionally, it is generally good research practice to cite an original source when writing a paper, or completing an exam.“
-- Sandra Ordonez, Wikipedia spokesperson
Image Attribution: http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/in_popular_culture.png
When should you use Wikipedia?
Talk to your neighbor to decide:
1. To get a quick overview of your research topic?
2. As the main source of information for your research paper?
3. When reading about a pop culture topic of personal interest?
4. When making an important decision about your health?
5. To see what sources the article’s author’s used?
Find a Book in the Library
C. Steps1. School Home Page
Find a Book in the Library
2. Library Home Page
Search WebCat
3. Enter name of the person you are researching4. Limit by school5. Click Search Everything
Search WebCat
Search WebCat
D. Print vs. Online Sources
Take about 1 minute to talk with the person next to you about the following questions. Write brief answers in your notes.
1. Why might using a print book be better than using the Internet or a database?
2. What are the advantages of using an online sources rather than a book?
Databases
On your bookmark, find ABC-CLIO History and circle it.
Now find Gale PowerSearch and circle it.
ABC-CLIO History
ABC-CLIO History
E. ABC-CLIO Search
1. Use “World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras”
Searching ABC-CLIO History2. Filter on left to limit, or click on a relevant result
Searching ABC-CLIO History
3. Use Related Entries to find more information, or click words in blue
Searching ABC-CLIO History
4. Use tools to print, email, or cite. MLA citation is at the end of the article.
F. Gale PowerSearch
1. Includes Academic OneFile for scholarly articles
2. Has reference eBooks for biographies of famous people
Gale PowerSearch
Gale PowerSearch
3. Limit by content type, subject, document type -- on left side. For example, Books to get reference book articles
Gale PowerSearch
Gale PowerSearch
4. Use Advanced Search and combine Subjects for very precise results
Review
Turn to the person next to you. Figure out whose birthday comes first in 2012.
The person with the first birthday will explain which two databases are recommended for this project, which one they will try first, and why.
Wrapping Up
In your notes (G), write one thing you learned today
In your notes (H), write one question you still have
Share questions now or email [email protected]
