2. Getting Started
• First- What information are you looking for?
( A strategy to help you is using keywords in
what you want. )
• 2nd- Write down a list of words that describe
your topic. By creating this list of keywords it’ll
help you focus on your topic.
• Use names of important people, places, and
events/issues.
3. Books
• If you are a great reader, books are plus to
start your research.
• You can either look for books online, or even
at your own library. (Just because a book
doesn’t have the exact title of information
that you are looking for, doesn’t mean that it
doesn’t contain information.
• Visit your own school, local, or public libraries!
4. Subscription Databases
• Database- a collection of information, which can
be accessed on the Internet.
• Unfortunately some databases require a
subscription to access.
• You can have access to the databases from the
library and your own home.
• You will find newspapers, magazines, journal
articles and reference books, usually full text and
reliable sources.
• You won’t find the same information through
Google or other search engines.
5. Searching Websites
• Search engine- is a website that uses specific software
programs to collect and organize content from all over
the Internet.
• What’s the first website you usually go to when your
looking for something? GOOGLE! Google is currently
the most used search engine. According to their studies
about 80% of the results you find will be on the first
page.
• Yahoo and Sweet Search are usually the second choice
for students.
• Tips: *look for advance search options*
*use common quotes or phrases*
6. News Publications
• Newspapers, journals and magazines are good
research tools.
• Searching current world newspapers will help
you broaden your understanding as you find
various viewpoints on an issue or topic.
• Be aware of bias reporting, term used to
describe a person’s preference towards a
particular perspective.
7. Blogs
• Blogs- is a personal diary or log that is
published online.
• Most blogs have not been fact-checked and
contain information that probably would not
be considered “authoritative” by professors or
scholars.
• Blogs can be used to help determine the
popular responses to current events or
modern culture.
8. Wikissss!
• Most teachers will tell you NOT to use this
website, only because it is not considered
“authoritative” or “scholarly”.
• Wikis allow people to share their knowledge and
expertise, which can be a good thing. The down
side to that is people can also invent facts or pass
off ideas as facts on Wiki.
• It is also a collaborative website which can be
directly edited using only a web browser, by
anyone with access to it.
9. Bibliography and Images
• Bibliography’s are also good. Use them when
asked for or when needed. They could come in
handy.
• Images are always fun, instead of having
someone just read a lot of words, they could
also see what you are talking about, only if
pictures are needed though.
10. Dear Suzy,
I am writing you this letter explaining the 7
steps to effective research. These 7 steps
outline a simple and effective strategy for
finding information for your research paper
and documenting the sources you find. Don’t
make it harder than what it really is, because
it is actually quite easy. They will help you at
every step in your research if you need it.
11. Step ONE!
• Identify and Develop your Topic
– Introduce your topic as a question. For example, if
you are wanting to know about the use of how
helium works with balloons, then you would ask
“How does the helium contribute to the balloon
elevating in the air?”
12. Step TWO!
• Find Background Information
– Read articles in these encyclopedias to set the
context for your research. Not any items in the
bibliographies at the end of encyclopedia articles.
– Or additional background information could be
found in your lecture notes, textbooks, and other
informational books.
13. Step THREE!
• Use Catalogs To Find Books and Media
– Remember that list you made about the keywords?
Well this is where it’ll also come in handy. Use those
keyword searching to find materials by topic or
subject.
– Write down the citations, authors, numbers, titles,
location information, anything that you can find about
them.
– If you even grab a book, look for in the bibliography
for additional sources. Or annual reviews on your
subject.
14. Step FOUR!
• Use Indexes to Find Periodical Articles
– Use periodical indexes and abstracts to find
citations to articles.
– The indexes and abstracts may be in print or
computer based formats or both.
– Now choose the on that best suits your particular
topic.
15. Step FIVE!
• Find Internet Resources
– This one is a biggie, and most likely a
MUST………….Use Search Engines!!!!
– Or you can also Check in your class there are any
bibliography or research guide created by
librarians.
16. Step SIX!
• Evaluate What You Find
– See how to critically analyzed the information
sources are and distinguish scholar from non-
scholar periodicals.
– If you go to YouTube, watch “Identifying scholarly
journals” or “Identifying substantive news
sources”
– If you feel like you found too many or too few
sources, you may need to narrow or broaden your
topic.
17. Step SEVEN! Last step!
• Cite What You Find Using A Standard Format
– Always give credit to where credit is due, and
always cite your sources. (It serves 2 purposes, it
gives proper credit to the authors of the materials
used, and it allows those who are reading your
work to duplicate your research and locate the
sources that you have listed as references.
– If you don’t, then that is plagiarism! Which is
illegal.
– Then you may write your paper :)
18. Here are also 4 great tips!
• One- GIVE YOURSELF PLENTY OF TIME!
Why? Because you don’t want to rush your
research, you will panic and write the first thing
down that you see, and if might not even relate
to your subject.
• Two- IDENTIFY AND DOCUMENT YOUR RESEARCH
TOPIC OR PROBLEM
Why? Because you want to identify main concepts
for your research. What you record will be helpful
to develop your search strategy.
19. Continued…
• Three- EVALUATE YOUR RESULTS
Why? Because you need to know if your
information is relevant to your topic. Did you get
enough or not enough or too much information?
Revise your search strategy if needed, and repeat
the process of searching.
• CITE YOUR RESEARCH
Why? Because you have to give the author or
whoever credit from where you got your research
from.
20. 4 Tips that are least effective
• One- If you’re confused, ask for help.
Why? Because you should already know that, more
like common sense.
• Two- Plan your search strategy.
Why? Because you should already planned it.
• Three- Select your tools carefully.
Why? Because I think anything is useful.
• Four- Conduct background research.
Why? Because you should already know to do that.
