4. Finding Sources
Primary Sources
vs.
Secondary Sources
Primary = personal
Secondary = summary
5.
6.
7.
8. Finding Sources
Startwith books
Reference Books, Encyclopedias, Biographies
Use the online card catalog
Middletown Public Library
9. Finding Sources
Searching on the internet
Make sure your websites are authentic
Who is providing the information?
What does the information tell you?
When was the information last updated?
How is the information displayed?
13. Finding Sources
Tips for searching on the databases
Use limiters to narrow or broaden your
search
Look for articles that are brief in
length 1-3 pages
Save your research to a folder
Remember to get opposing
viewpoints
14. Topic Selection
Choose a subject that interests you
Brainstorm
What do I know already?
What do I want to learn?
Narrow down the subject
Define key words
Preliminary research
Develop a thesis statement
15. Thesis Statement
A thesis statement must be a “bold
statement” reflecting the author’s
opinion.
Itmust be supported, explained and
proven in the body of the paper.
You need to convince or persuade the
reader on a debatable topic.
16. Thesis Statement
Ask the question “why” at least five times
For example:
Agent Orange in Vietnam
What I know already- It was a chemical
used during the Vietnam War.
What I want to learn-
Why was it used? Why was it harmful? Why
did it change the course of the war? Why
was it called Agent Orange? Why would
the U.S. use the chemical if it was
hazardous to our soldiers?
17. Take a stance
Non-debatable statement
Pollution is bad for the environment.
Debatable statement
America’s anti-pollution efforts should
focus primarily on privately owned cars.
Source: Weida, Stacey, and Karl Stolley. "Developing A Strong Thesis Statement." Purdue OWL:
Purdue University, 2 Sept. 2011 Web. 04 Mar.
2012. <http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/588/01/>.
18. Which is debatable?
Thousands of people suffered physical
effects after being exposed to Agent
Orange during the Vietnam War.
Agent Orange was a chemical used in the
Vietnam War to kill vegetation.
Agent Orange is not harmful to people
because it was thoroughly tested and
used prior to the Vietnam War.
19. Getting Started
Find a book on the cart
Use our online catalog(Destiny)to locate a
specific book
Use the home page on Destiny for reference
help
Use Bayshore LibGuides
Start a list or “works cited” page on Easy Bib of
your sources as you are researching
21. Review
1. Give an example of a primary source.
2. Give an example of a secondary source.
3. Where is a good place to start your research
and select a topic?
4. How does a search engine work?
5. What are the 4 types of resources for
research?
6. How would you evaluate a website? (one
example)
7. What is the difference between a website
and a database?
8. Good keywords can help to narrow or
broaden your search. True or False?
22. Bibliography
Bentley, Nancy. Don't Be a Copycat!: Write a Great Report without Plagiarizing. Berkeley
Heights, NJ: Enslow Elementary, 2008. Print.
Billy, Jennifer. Cell Phone Comparision. Digital image. Money Saving Secrets Blog. 8 Feb. 2011.
Web. 4 Feb. 2012. <http://moneysavingsecretsblog.com/category/money-management/>.
College Comparison. Digital image. Thinksquad Blog. 23 May 2011. Web. 4 Feb. 2012.
<http://thinksquad.net/tag/college/>.
Diary of Sophia Peabody Hawthorne (1809–1871)1862. Digital image. The Diary: Three
Centuries of Private Lives. The Morgan Library & Museum. Web. 4 Feb. 2012.
<http://www.themorgan.org/exhibitions/exhibition.asp?id=42>.
Gaines, Ann. Ace Your Research Paper. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow, 2009. Print.
"Homework Center: Writing Skills — Infoplease.com." Infoplease. Family Education
Network/Pearson Education. Web. 16 Jan. 2012.
<http://www.infoplease.com/homework/writingskills1.html>.
"Primary and Secondary Sources." Palm Beach School Talk Blog. Web. 04 Feb. 2012.
<http://palmbeachschooltalk.com/groups/digitalhub/wiki/4700b/Primary_and_Secondary_S
ources.html>.
"Thesis Statement." Wheaton College Writing Center. Wheaton College, 2009. Web. 16 Jan.
2012. <http://www.wheaton.edu/Academics/Services/Writing-Center/Thesis-Statement>.
"What Are Archives? - Primary Sources in American History and Culture - Guides at Baruch
College." Home - Guides at Baruch College. Web. 04 Feb. 2012.
<http://guides.newman.baruch.cuny.edu/primarysources>.
"What Are Spiders on Websites?" Answers.yourdictionary.com. Love to Know. Web. 04 Feb.
2012. <http://answers.yourdictionary.com/answers/computer/>.
Editor's Notes
Remember these 4
Primary=original artifacts, diaries, interviews,art,photos,letters Secondary= interpretation of facts, biographies,books,magazine articles ***use primary sources it makes your report interesting
Initial Research: Encyclopedias, almanacs, reference books => Use the table of contents and index to browse for your topic– Dewey Decimal
Who: Are they and expert? Look for author’s credentials and contact information What? What does the information tell you? Is there bias? Are they trying to sell you something? When was the information last updated– is it current?? How is the information laid out? Does the website look professional does it have active links?
Search engines have spider bots that crawl out into the web and bring back information some of the information returned is filtered and some is not
Good Keywords open the doors to great research. Change your keywords if your are not getting the information you need.
Databases are paid subscriptions, the information is updated on a daily basis,
Go online and demonstrate to students!!!!Use the words “and” “or” in the keyword search box…. Use limiters and advanced search
Take a stance on your statement– After the research what opinion have you made– be clear and specific
You will have to conduct research to form an opinion!
From home login to Bayshore website and then media center– you will need passwords and user id’s to gain access to databases
