Research: Resources & Strategies
Get Organized!
Resources Passwords (for at-home use)
Online Resources
Smart Searching Tips for Google
Credible Source Checklist
Primary vs. Secondary Sources
Note-Taking Close Reading Strategies
Noodletools
Research Strategy
In addition to the NHD Resources, Odessa Shannon MS is providing additional resources below.
The Reference Sources are a great starting point to get a broad overview of a variety of topics. Once you narrow it down to your chosen topic, use the Reference Sources to find basic information.
When you are ready to go deeper into your chosen topic, you can move on to the Online Databases. These will give you more specific research articles.
Finally, move on to the Reputable Websites to add further depth to your research.
Online Resources
MCPS Reference Sources
(*Passwords)Britannica Original Sources* (Primary Sources)
Britannica School* (ES, MS, & HS Levels)
Britannica Academic* (College Level)
Britannica Escolar* (Spanish)
Britannica Image Quest* (Fair Use Images)
Copyright Free Images
Britannica Image Quest (Pictures can count as primary source documents!)
Smart Searching Tips for Google
Watch the National History Day video to learn smart searching tips for searching using Google.
Primary Sources Vs. Secondary Sources
Primary Sources
A primary source is a piece of information about a historical event or period in which the creator of the source was an actual participant in or a contemporary of a historical moment. The purpose of primary sources is to capture the words, the thoughts and the intentions of the past. Primary sources help you to interpret what happened and why it happened.
Examples of primary sources include: documents, artifacts, historic sites, songs, or other written and tangible items created during the historical period you are studying.
"How to Create an NHD Project." National History Day, 2018. https://www.nhd.org/how-enter-contestSecondary Sources
A secondary source is a source that was not created first-hand by someone who participated in the historical era. Secondary sources are usually created by historians, but based on the historian’s reading of primary sources. Secondary sources are usually written decades, if not centuries, after the event occurred by people who did not live through or participate in the event or issue. The purpose of a secondary source is to help build the story of your research from multiple perspectives and to give your research historical context.
"How to Create an NHD Project." National History Day, 2018. https://www.nhd.org/how-enter-contestNote-Taking Close Reading Strategies
FIRST READ: KEY IDEAS AND DETAILS
Look for Key Words that support your argument
Use Crtl+F to locate key words
SECOND READ: CRAFT AND STRUCTURE
Reread a section that includes complex elements or ideas that you should explore to arrive at a deep understanding of the text.
THIRD READ: INTEGRATION OF KNOWLEDGE AND IDEAS
Go even deeper to synthesize and analyze information.
Does this present any new questions?
Creativity, Copyright and Fair Use
As creators, we need to be aware of copyright law and the appropriate ways to use original work responsibly with fair use. Being a creator means giving credit where credit is due, and getting credit for your original work!
Click and watch the video from Common Sense Media for more information:
NoodleTools
Use NoodleTools to organize your NHD project.
With NoodleTools you can create and share projects, add citations and annotations, create bibliographies, work on group projects, and organize your research using notecards.
Log into NoodleTools using your MCPS Gmail account.
Click to access NoodleTools Quick Guide for Students for help and information.