Foundations of World History Research Project

Databases are:

• Authoritative

• Searchable

• Customizable

Database articles give you:

• Basic information written at an accessible level

• Key facts about a person, place, or event

Database articles DON'T give you:

• Scholarly opinions or evidence to support scholarly arguments

• Original research

Use information from database articles to:

• Build a timeline related to your research topic

• Sketch out a map of locations related to your research topic

• Dazzle your friends and family with three or four fascinating facts about your topic

• Add to your list of keywords  to use as you continue your research

Book locating basics:

• Find print books on the shelves here through the Blackburne Library Catalog

• Find ebooks through the Ebsco Academic eBook Collection

Follow these steps to evaluate a book for usefulness: (The process is the same for books or ebooks)

• Read the jacket copy (usually on the cover jacket flap or the back of the book). For an ebook, read the description included in the book's record

• Look for information about the author (either in book or from a quick Google search)

• Read the introduction!

To locate a book's relevant information do this: 

• Scan the table of contents for chapter headings that include your keywords

• If the table of contents does not have useful chapter headings, go to index and follow the trail to a chapter

Skim first, then take notes:

• Read the entire first paragraph of the chapter.

• Read the first sentence of all following paragraphs

• Read the entire last paragraph of the chapter

NEVER DO THIS:

• Look up keywords in the index, find that word on the page, and start reading from there

ALWAYS DO THIS:

• Create your source card before you take your first note!

Can't find enough information in books and ebooks?

• Ask the librarians to help you search a magazine article database.