SS+10th+Grade+Research

=I chose a topic. Now, how do I begin my research? =

Use the questions, keywords, and list of sources you created in Step Two to help you locate your sources. == Start looking in the following places (use your keywords in the search boxes): == [|BHS Library Catalog] BHS Library Databases Brookline Public Library Google Books - Video on Google Books for Research
 * Locate Your Sources **

Databases to start with:

 * General Reference**
 * World Book Encyclopedia
 * [|Encyclopedia Britannica]
 * Biography In Context (Gale)
 * Gale Virtual Reference Library
 * Oxford African American Resource Center
 * Social Studies**
 * World History: The Modern Era (ABC-Clio)
 * World History in Context (Gale)
 * World Religions (ABC-Clio)
 * Pop Culture Universe (ABC-Clio)

Google Search Skills for Research
To search only college/university sites, add site:edu to the search box. This limits your search to ".edu" sites. You still need to evaluate the source!

Beyond Google

 * Sweet Search is a search engine that will only point to websites that have been evaluated and approved by research experts, librarians and teachers. Rather than ranking the results by popularity, they ensure their results are ranked by credibility.
 * Yippy or Clusty (two names, same search engine) is an engine that searches other search engines for you. Yippy/Clusty groups similar results together into “clouds.” Clouds help you see your search results by topic so you can zero in on exactly what you’re looking for or discover unexpected relationships between items.

Skim and Scan Your Sources
Once a source is in your hand, skim and scan each it to determine if it will be helpful. ([|Things to look for].) Ask yourself if it looks like this source will be useful in answering your research questions. Can you understand the information? If you answer yes, then create a complete citation for this source. If the answer is no, still jot down the title in case you need to refer back it.

Much of what you find on your topic may be repetitious. Avoid using sources with the same information.

Evaluating Websites

 * [|The CRAP test]
 * CRAP test in action video
 * [[image:http://bhslibrary.weebly.com/uploads/8/0/1/5/801512/8696701.png?175 caption="Picture" link="http://bhslibrary.weebly.com/uploads/8/0/1/5/801512/crap_test.png"]] ||
 * Click the image for a full size graphic of the CRAP Test ||

Read and Take Notes
See Social Study Handbook for methods of notetaking.

Be selective when taking notes. Only write down information that will be useful in answering your research questions. Remember to include the page number or web address for all the information you collect. When taking notes, make sure you use quotations when copying text word for word.