Step Three: How do I begin my research?
Locate Your Sources
Use the questions, keywords, and list of sources you created in Step Two to help you locate your sources.
Start looking in the following places (use your keywords in the search boxes):
BHS Library Catalog
BHS Library Databases
Brookline Public Library
Boston Public Library
Google Books - How to use Google Books for research.
Tips for Searching
Tips for searching Google
Searching Effectively Using And, Or, Not
Search Tips from the Library of Congress
Skim and Scan Your Sources
Once a source is in your hand, skim and scan each it to determine if it will be helpful. (Things to look for.) Ask yourself if it looks like this source will be useful in answering your research questions. Can you understand the information? If you answer yes, then create a complete citation for this source. If the answer is no, still jot down the title in case you need to refer back it.
Create Bibliographic Citations for Your Sources
Online Tools to Create a Citation- BHS uses the MLA format
Son of Citation Machine
NoodleBib
Evaluate Your Sources
If your are planning to use a website, put it to the test. BHS Web Evaluation Sheet
Tutorials on Web Evaluation
Put Your Website to the Test
Quick
Much of what you find on your topic on the free web will be repetitious. Avoid using sources with the same information.
Read and Take Notes
See Social Study Handbook for methods of notetaking.
Be selective when taking notes. Only write down information that will be useful in answering your research questions. Remember to include the page number or web address for all the information you collect. When taking notes, make sure you use quotations when copying text word for word.
Plagiarism
Make sure you give credit where credit is due. Sources are cited for three reasons. One is to give credit to the author's ideas or words you used, and the other is to allow the reader to check where you obtained your information from so they can check your research and follow up on the sources you used.
Keeping track of your sources will help you avoid plagiarism, help you find where you obtained your information from, and help you create your bibliography for your research project.
Tutorial on Plagiarism
Once you have looked at and taken notes from a variety of sources, you are ready to move on to Step Four, Refine and Continue Your Research.
Use the questions, keywords, and list of sources you created in Step Two to help you locate your sources.
Start looking in the following places (use your keywords in the search boxes):
BHS Library Catalog
BHS Library Databases
Brookline Public Library
Boston Public Library
Google Books - How to use Google Books for research.
Tips for Searching
Tips for searching Google
Searching Effectively Using And, Or, Not
Search Tips from the Library of Congress
Skim and Scan Your Sources
Once a source is in your hand, skim and scan each it to determine if it will be helpful. (Things to look for.) Ask yourself if it looks like this source will be useful in answering your research questions. Can you understand the information? If you answer yes, then create a complete citation for this source. If the answer is no, still jot down the title in case you need to refer back it.
Create Bibliographic Citations for Your Sources
Online Tools to Create a Citation- BHS uses the MLA format
Son of Citation Machine
NoodleBib
Evaluate Your Sources
If your are planning to use a website, put it to the test. BHS Web Evaluation Sheet
Tutorials on Web Evaluation
Put Your Website to the Test
Quick
Much of what you find on your topic on the free web will be repetitious. Avoid using sources with the same information.
Read and Take Notes
See Social Study Handbook for methods of notetaking.
Be selective when taking notes. Only write down information that will be useful in answering your research questions. Remember to include the page number or web address for all the information you collect. When taking notes, make sure you use quotations when copying text word for word.
Plagiarism
Make sure you give credit where credit is due. Sources are cited for three reasons. One is to give credit to the author's ideas or words you used, and the other is to allow the reader to check where you obtained your information from so they can check your research and follow up on the sources you used.
Keeping track of your sources will help you avoid plagiarism, help you find where you obtained your information from, and help you create your bibliography for your research project.
Tutorial on Plagiarism
Once you have looked at and taken notes from a variety of sources, you are ready to move on to Step Four, Refine and Continue Your Research.