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Search Strategies
Search Strategies
Before you start looking for information, you need to create a list of KEYWORDS that you will use to help you find good sources. This video from the Portland State University Library gives you a lesson on how to make a good list of terms to use when searching.
Strategies to use with keywords include:
Boolean Operators ---AND, OR, NOT (always capitalize)
Quotation Marks -- to keep words together in a search, especially with names
Star/Asterisk symbol after a word for truncation to find different forms of the same word
Video explaining search strategies
Gale Topic Finder can be used to help with finding quality keywords
Searching the Library Catalog and Databases
Searching the Library Catalog and Databases
Go to the HS library's Google Classroom to find database links and passwords
or go to the Middle School Google Classroom
You want sources that are accurate and reliable.
Start with BOOKS from the PFTSTA library. Open the library catalog where you can find print and electronic resources owned by the PFTSTA Library.
Look for books in the Jefferson Public Library. Open the JPL catalog
You can find more DATABASES through the Jefferson Public Library: JPL and LA databases
To access these databases, you need your JPL card number. The database that may be the most helpful is EBSCO found under the state databases listed in the column on the right.
High school students may use resources from the web only after exhausting all library and database resources.
Find quality websites in the library catalog. Go to the library catalog. Select the blue magnifying glass in the upper right to open the search bar, and once you get results, you can select websites at the top of the page.
Free websites with social studies content
Free websites with social studies content
The library staff at the Smithsonian has collected a list of databases that are available for free. Many were created for professionals in their field.
Jurn is a directory that offers scholarly works. Find open access electronic journals
JSTOR is a subscription database, but you can access 100s of open access ebooks for free or create a free account so that you download up to 100 free articles a month (number of free articles may change after COVID 19)
USA Related:
Have you selected a current controversial topic? If so try Procon.org to get both sides of the issue.
Looking for newspapers from around the world? Find links here.
American Heritage magazine has articles covering all eras of American history.
Search American newspapers at the Library of Congress from 1836-1922.
If you selected a topic related to World War II, find lists of research starters at the WWII Museum.
Find photos from Library Congress on Flicker.
World Related:
The World Digital Library has content from 8000 BCE to 2000 focusing on non-Western parts of the world.
The CIA World Factbook provides information on history, culture, government, economy, etc. on over 260 world nations.
Louisiana Related
Have a topic that is Louisiana related? Try one of these free resources from the State Library of LA.
Louisiana Digital Media Archive to preserve and make accessible the historic Louisiana video contained within the collections of LPB and the State Archives.
Taking Notes in Noodle Tools
Taking Notes in Noodle Tools
Videos to explain how to create notecards in Noodle Tools can be found here
Find even more detailed help with notecards here.
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