10th Grade English Research Project
Access database passwords, research tips and tutorials in this Schoology group.
“Pre-search” strategies for selecting and narrowing topics
- Conduct preliminary searches in Alexandria Researcher using keywords generated from your interests.
- For book results, browse through the Tables of Contents
- Peruse newer nonfiction books (on cart) and read their tables of contents for narrowing ideas
- For book results, browse through the Tables of Contents
- Browse overviews of topics in databases such as Opposing Viewpoints and High School in Context.
- Databases can help you narrow your focus (and indicate the availability of scholarly articles).
- In databases, expand Related Subjects (right or left side of page) to view additional search terms, connections and narrower topics. Take the time to investigate topics in various databases, as coverage will differ.
- Scan articles in:
- Gale Subject Guide Search- helps you narrow a broad topic
- Gale Topic Finder - helps you discover connections to a topic
VIDEOS ABOUT TOPIC SELECTION AND NARROWING
Searching for Credible Sources
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Click the image to view all available databases.
- - Remember: Databases are "one-stop shops". They contain credible, scholarly, and current sources from various content types (books, magazines, journals, newspapers, videos, audio). Links to web sites are often included.
- All databases contain tools to help you organize and cite.
Tips for database usage:
- Save and cite articles as you find them. When saving links, be sure to locate the "persistent link" or "bookmark URL" for the article (usually at the bottom or right side of the page) instead of the "session" URL in the address box.
Select All Cross-Searchable products or select specific databases from the menu.
Magazine results appear first; select additional Content Types.
You can change the sort to "Newest" or limit results by publication date.
If you expand the "Subjects" list, you will see topics related to the one you are searching, which can lead to additional articles.
Don't forget! You can export Gale citations directly to Noodletools.
Magazine results appear first; select additional Content Types.
You can change the sort to "Newest" or limit results by publication date.
If you expand the "Subjects" list, you will see topics related to the one you are searching, which can lead to additional articles.
Don't forget! You can export Gale citations directly to Noodletools.
Effective searching in EBSCO
As you type search terms, you will notice that search suggestions appear (just as they do in Google). After results appear, use limiters on the left to refine, as shown to the right. You can change the sort of results from "Relevance" to "Date". Click "Permalink" to generate a permanent URL for articles. Click "Cite" to locate a pre-formatted citation that you can paste into Noodletools. Directions for pasting citations into Noodletools are in the Schoology group. |
CITING YOUR SOURCES
How to share with a project inbox: Create a new project (MLA Advanced). On your project dashboard, click "Share with a Project Inbox". Begin to type your teacher's last name and select the appropriate period #. Click "Done".
Databases: You can export citations directly to Noodletools from some databases (Gale, Classroom Video) and copy and paste pre-formatted citations from all databases. Directions for doing so are in the Noodletools/Citation folder in the Library Resources for Students Schoology group.
Books: You can import citation information using the book's ISBN # or title/author. Directions are in the Noodletools/Citation folder in the Library Resources for Students Schoology group.
PARENTHETICAL (IN-TEXT) CITATIONS:
What typically goes in an MLA-style parenthetical reference?
The information that you need to include depends on what type of source the material comes from. For printed material, you normally only need to include the author(s) (or title if there is no author) and page number(s) in your reference. For multi-volume works like encyclopedias, you may also need to include a volume number (see Rules 6 and 7 below). For Internet sources, sometimes paragraph numbers are provided.
Placement - The parentheses are usually placed at the end of a sentence, between the last word and the period. If you are quoting material directly, the parentheses should go between the closing quotation mark and the period.
*Common knowledge does not need to be cited. Not sure whether something is common knowledge? Go ahead and cite.
Databases: You can export citations directly to Noodletools from some databases (Gale, Classroom Video) and copy and paste pre-formatted citations from all databases. Directions for doing so are in the Noodletools/Citation folder in the Library Resources for Students Schoology group.
Books: You can import citation information using the book's ISBN # or title/author. Directions are in the Noodletools/Citation folder in the Library Resources for Students Schoology group.
- To find the ISBN # in ebooks, look in a section often called "About the book". Can't find it? You can change the import option to title/author.
PARENTHETICAL (IN-TEXT) CITATIONS:
- Noodletools can help you format your in-text references. Click the "In-text reference" link to the right of each completed citation. A box will pop up and will show you an example of a parenthetical reference for the source you cited, along with the other general tips listed below:
What typically goes in an MLA-style parenthetical reference?
The information that you need to include depends on what type of source the material comes from. For printed material, you normally only need to include the author(s) (or title if there is no author) and page number(s) in your reference. For multi-volume works like encyclopedias, you may also need to include a volume number (see Rules 6 and 7 below). For Internet sources, sometimes paragraph numbers are provided.
Placement - The parentheses are usually placed at the end of a sentence, between the last word and the period. If you are quoting material directly, the parentheses should go between the closing quotation mark and the period.
*Common knowledge does not need to be cited. Not sure whether something is common knowledge? Go ahead and cite.
NOODLETOOLS
NOTECARDS |
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TAKING NOTES AND PARAPHRASING
Why we take notes
Video tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll7S95O5oww
Tips for paraphrasing
- We use various information sources in reports and papers
- Without taking notes and instead going directly from a source to your paper increases the chances that you won't put passages in your own words and you will run the risk of plagiarizing.
- Always keep your research questions in mind. That will help you keep your focus when reading different articles.
- Each note card should only contain one fact, one quote, one opinion, one example, etc.
- Use direct quotes sparingly.
- Take notes from one source at a time. You can tag notes with keywords and connect sources later.
Video tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll7S95O5oww
- Advantage - you don't lose paper index cards and your notes can be attached to the source. You can also create "thought cards" that aren't attached to sources
- Each notecard in Noodletools contains 3 sections (Direct Quotation, Paraphrase, My Ideas)
- Direct Quotation: Where you type or cut & paste exact wording from a source
- Paraphrase: Put it in your own words
- My Ideas: thoughts, questions, feelings, personal perspective and/or connections
- Each notecard in Noodletools contains 3 sections (Direct Quotation, Paraphrase, My Ideas)
- Add tags to your notecards to identify concepts. You may not know how to tag it until after you create the note. Tags will help you connect to other sources.
- You can highlight and mark up your notes in various ways. You can also add color-code notecards.
- You can add visual cues (reminders) to notes (Need help, Important, Incomplete, etc.)
- Be sure to include page numbers (or paragraph numbers for online sources without page numbers)
Tips for paraphrasing
- Paraphrasing takes a lot of practice. Taking good notes helps you paraphrase in your paper.
- Read the source, then look away. Take time to think about what it means. Read it again if you don't truly understand what you read. If you still don't understand it, ask for help or move on to a different source.
- After thinking about the meaning of a passage, try putting it in your own words. Then, go back to the source and check for accuracy. It's less likely you'll repeat the author's exact words.
- It's very difficult to paraphrase without having a true understanding of what you read.
- A paraphrase never duplicates more than an occasional word or phrase. Changing a couple words and changing the order of sentences is not paraphrasing.
- A paraphrase could be as long as an original passage. Summarizing is when you reduce and condense what you read. You need to give credit to the original author either way (in a parenthetical reference and in your works cited).
- Most of our databases provide a listen/read-aloud option. Another idea is to listen to the article (without looking at it). Then, type out what you remember and compare it to the article.
- You could also record yourself putting it in your own words (you can use Sound Recorder on your computer).
CREATING AN OUTLINE FROM YOUR NOTES IN NOODLETOOLS
Refer to: https://noodletools.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/6000054209-how-to-create-and-use-an-outline
Refer to: https://noodletools.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/6000054209-how-to-create-and-use-an-outline