Day 1
Get organized.
It's important to have a system to organize your research. Plan to take notes somewhere. You can create a notes Google Doc and save your articles to your Google Drive in a designated folder OR, you can use Scrible. Click here to get started.
When you save your articles in a list be sure to grab the "Permalink" for articles.
Research in the databases.
What is a database? Why not use Google?
Databases specialize in certain types of topics
Databases have tools to limit your search
Database articles are written by experts
Database articles include citations you can copy and paste
How can databases be accessed from home?
You will ALWAYS need a username/password to access the databases from home. It is DIFFERENT than your Lake Park username/password. Click the password image at right to access the most up-to-date usernames and passwords.
How should I search in a database?
Spell carefully. Try not to use too many words.
Be sure to search for "full text" articles only.
Look beyond the initial results. The first page is just a sampling.
Use advanced search options when possible.
Too many results? Try using quotes or connectors like and.
Example: "Chilean Miners" and rescue
Example: survivor and tsunami
Too few results? Try using connectors or or not, Asterisk (*), or Question Mark (?)
Example: "drug use" not prescription
Example: mathemat* will yield results with mathematicians, mathematics, etc.
Example: wom?n will yield results with women or woman
Which database should I use?
Explora (EBSCO) - A solid general database for research when you aren't sure where to start.
Biography in Context (Gale) - All about people!
Modern Genocide (ABC-CLIO) - Sources spanning past and present genocides including memoirs, narratives, and other primary source material.
National Geographic Virtual Library (Gale) - All issues of National Geographic (ever!).
You can try any of these other databases if you think they'd be a good pick for your project!