Searching+for+Information

SEARCHING FOR INFORMATION

 * EXPLORING RESOURCES (extra credit) **** : ﻿ ** After you have submitted your topic online, you will complete a brief activity to explore additional library resources. Your task is to determine which resources are best suited to your information needs.



SEARCHING FOR INFORMATION PRESENTATION

USING RESEARCH DATABASES

For the most part you will rely heavily on the CPS research database. Specificially, the [|Gale Research Databases]. The databases listed here are the same as those listed on your bright green databases sheet. You will need the passwords that are printed on the green sheets to access some of the databases.


 * Useful CPS Databses for Research**

Gale Research Databases--Use the **Power Search** feature that we learned about in class.

[|Newsbank]--Chicago Newspapers

[|Teen Health and Wellness Database]--Great resource for comprehensive information on many topics with links to additional resources.

USING THE FREE WORLD WIDE WEB

You will be using research databases to find magazine and scholarly journal articles related to your topic, but you may also need to use the free Internet, which can unfortunately be full of misinformation as well. It is important to ensure that your information is ** Credible, Accurate, and Relevant **. Use these guides to help you determine if your website is usable:


 * [|Five criteria for evaluating web sites]
 * [|Five W's of website evaluation]
 * [|Checklist for Evaluating Websites]

Use some of the EXCELLENT resources found on the Helpful Links page to find facts, statistics, and additional informaion

Instead of Googling your search, try going directly to the Internet Public Library and look for a site to search **within**. Oftentimes search engines will not find the most relevant pieces of information on a topic because the information is **within** a database or website. You can also google a general topic and add "database" to your search to find clearinghouse and other data sources for your topic.
 * A Note About the Invisible Web**

STATISTICS

Statistics are often important to support your argument when writing persuasively, but they are not always easy to find.

Use the sites on the Helpful Links page to find data, statistics, and research on lots of topics such as child abuse, prisons, poverty, alcohol, drug abuse, technology, etc.

Here is another guide to finding statistics on the Web:

Internet Public Library: Finding Statistics

OTHER //Film, Television Series, Radio, Experts...//

Where else might you find information on your topic? How will you determine which are your BEST sources? How you will locate the information you need within each source? How will you know what information is useful?

If you do not already have a Chicago Public Library card in good standing, you should GET ONE! Click here for a map of locations.


 * Multimedia**--video, radio, podcasts,etc. Available using most of the CPS Research Databases.
 * Experts**--Interviews also can be excellent sources of information.

**TAKING NOTES and KEEPING TRACK OF SOURCES **

To keep track of your research, you will be recording the sources that you use on ** SOURCE CARDS **.

You should use the color-coded source cards provided to you in class for the three major types of sources: Article in Online Database, Book, and General Website.




 * SOURCE SUMMARY (assignment #3): ﻿ **You are required to use at least ONE article from a CPS online database and complete a Source Summary based on 2-column using the following sheet:



** Think About It... **

How will I find the information that I need? What are the BEST sources of information for this task? How will I determine if my information is credible? <span style="color: #008080; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How and where will I locate my sources? <span style="color: #008080; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How will I find information WITHIN my sources?

<span style="color: #008080; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Eisenberg, Michael. "A Big 6 Skills Overview." Big 6 Information and Technology Skills. 19 Nov 2001. Retrieved 15 Dec 2010. <http://www.big6.com>.