Researching

Databases

Academic Search Premier via Badgerlink.net/Ebscohost (click on Academic Search Premier)

SIRS Issues Researcher via ProQuest

SIRS Discoverer via ProQuest (Middle School)

JSTOR Archives (Ask teacher/librarian for login)

JSTOR Global Plants

Badgerlink

Gale Student Resources in Context

Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context

Google Scholar

Choosing a Topic

Identify the problem, issue, or topic that satisfies your research needs.  Come up with a question that will help gather the information you are seeking.  It may be helpful to consult with the teacher who is requiring the research, as well as the school librarian.  

Using the question you created, pick out some keywords that will help you find the information you seek.  After you have found the initial keywords, do a preliminary search for your topic.  This can be done on any online search engine. If your search comes back with too many results that are not related to your topic, you may want to narrow your topic using additional keywords. If your search comes back with too few results, think about broadening your topic or possibly even changing it.

Take time to read about your topic using the general sources you found in your initial search.  Gain a general knowledge about your topic so that you can come up with different keywords that might give you more or even better results.  Remember that different authors will use different words to describe the same topic, so creating a list of multiple keyword choices will help you find the best available sources.  It may also be a good idea use the dictionary or thesaurus to compile a keyword list.

Finding and Organizing Materials & Information

After you have determined your topic and keywords, you need to find out what type of information you need:

Do I need primary sources or are secondary sources?

Where can I find my information and where would be the best place to look?

Many resources can now be found online, but that does not mean all resources can be.  Do not limit yourself by exclusively searching online, you may be missing important resources. Plus, you know that printed sources are generally credible.

When relevant information is found you will need a way to keep track of it and organize it. Besides classic note-taking strategies and methods, there are several online tools you can use:

Be sure to document all relevant resources you come across as you never know what may be useful, in the end.  Taking steps to avoid plagiarism is always a good strategy to follow.

Evaluating Resources

You have found some resources, now you need to determine if they are credible or not.  You can use any number of website evaluation tools, but here are 4 that may be of use to you:

This can also be useful when determining the bias or agenda of other sources as well.  Remember, it is rare to find a resource, outside the academic world, that does not contain some sort of agenda or bias.

Citing Sources

When you have gathered all of your useful and credible resources together, it is time to cite your sources.  Consult your teacher to determine if you need to use a "Works Cited," "References," or "Bibliography" page or follow the tips for which to use here.  You will also need to know which style to use when doing your citing.  There are 3 different styles you may be required to use, each with their own set of rules:

This can be a daunting task because of the various rules for each style.  Luckily there are several resources available that can help you cite your sources and create a "Works Cited" page:

Below are useful research guides that were also used to help create this page:

Social Studies Primary Sources

Gale Primary Sources Databases

Slavery & Punishment Primary and Secondary Sources

Slavery & Punishment Primary and Secondary Sources

Civil War & Reconstruction Primary Sources

Native American Primary Sources

European Exploration Primary Sources