Summit High School Instructional Session
What are we talking about today?
- We'll share the progress you've made on selecting your topic.
- We'll talk about the types of sources you might use to learn more about your topic and how to determine if they're academically acceptable.
- We'll review some helpful tips for searching Google.
- And we'll discuss ways the Barber Library can support you!
What progress have you made on finding a topic that sparks your curiosity?
You can share as a question, your thesis statement, big concepts...what makes you curious and what will you be learning more about as part of your research? Click here to add your response.
What sources might you use for your topic and how do you evaluate them?
When you're searching, how do you know that what you're finding is authoritative? How do you determine if you'll use something as a source? Is it CRAAP?
Currency: When was the information published or posted? Has the information been revised or updated? Does your topic require current information or will older sources work?
Relevance: Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question? Who is the intended audience? Is the information too basic or too advanced for your needs? Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this is the one you would like to use?
Authority: Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor? What are the author’s credentials or affiliations? Is the author qualified to write on the topic? On a website, does the URL reveal anything about the author (example: .com, .edu, .gov, .org, .net, /sponsored)?
Accuracy: Where does the information come from? Is the information supported by evidence? Has the information been reviewed by someone other than the author? Can you verify the information from another source? Are there spelling errors, grammar mistakes, or typos?
Purpose: What is the purpose of the information: to inform, teach, sell, entertain, or persuade? Do the authors make their intentions clear?
Currency: When was the information published or posted? Has the information been revised or updated? Does your topic require current information or will older sources work?
Relevance: Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question? Who is the intended audience? Is the information too basic or too advanced for your needs? Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this is the one you would like to use?
Authority: Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor? What are the author’s credentials or affiliations? Is the author qualified to write on the topic? On a website, does the URL reveal anything about the author (example: .com, .edu, .gov, .org, .net, /sponsored)?
Accuracy: Where does the information come from? Is the information supported by evidence? Has the information been reviewed by someone other than the author? Can you verify the information from another source? Are there spelling errors, grammar mistakes, or typos?
Purpose: What is the purpose of the information: to inform, teach, sell, entertain, or persuade? Do the authors make their intentions clear?
How do you make an effective Google search?
- Search quotations or exact phrases using quotation marks “”
example: “personal bubble” - Ignore words that aren’t relevant to your topic by using -
example: twins -Minnesota -movie - If you find a website you really like and want to see other websites that are related, type related:URL to find similar websites
example: related:finaid.org - If you only want websites that are educational or published by the government, you can limit your search to certain domains by typing site:.domain
example: fluoride site:.gov
Don’t forget, as you learn more about your topic, your keywords might change! Researching is a process that evolves so don’t be afraid to do multiple searchers, revise, and adapt!
But what happens when you find an article on Google, you click on it, and then all of a sudden it's asking you for $money$ in order to access it?!
Check out your options at your local public library: http://www.deschuteslibrary.org/
What resources does the Barber Library offer for you?
You're also here to learn more about the resources available to you here. But there's a lot of information on our website! What's the first thing you notice on this page?
Click here to view the library homepage live.
To see a road map for information that will help you make decisions about where to click on this page, click on the arrows in the image below:
Click here to view the library homepage live.
To see a road map for information that will help you make decisions about where to click on this page, click on the arrows in the image below:
When searching library resources, you have to think more carefully about the words you use to search. Start simple, with the most basic words you can think of to describe your topic and add complexity as you learn more.
If you'd like to use Barber Library resources after today, sign up for a community patron account before leaving! If you're younger than 16, you'll need to bring a parent or guardian with you to use our resources.
You have a lot of great places to get help, but you can always contact me if you have any questions!
If you'd like to use Barber Library resources after today, sign up for a community patron account before leaving! If you're younger than 16, you'll need to bring a parent or guardian with you to use our resources.
You have a lot of great places to get help, but you can always contact me if you have any questions!