Research and Wider Reading Resources for 6th Form Studies

1. FIND IT!
Research and Wider Reading Resources
for 6th Form Studies
• How to search effectively and save time
• Understand the types of information
available and which is best for your
purpose
• How to select and evaluate information
to make sure you’re using reliable
sources

2. • One of the best ways you can stand out during your Sixth Form studies
is through the amount of independent study you undertake outside of
the classroom.
• Whatever your future plans, being able to extend yourself and
research independently into your interests, using a variety of
sources, is an invaluable skill which will support your university
applications and/or future job applications and interviews.
• Universities and employers expect more than just classroom
knowledge, they want you to show them you are interested in your
studies beyond what is on the school syllabus
• HACA LRC staff can help you find and access resources to help with
your research and wider reading.

3. 6 STEPS TO EFFECTIVE RESEARCH
I N F O R M

4. Journals
Newspapers
Academic Books
Google
Experts
Youtube
Documentaries
Wikipedia
FIND IT!
INFORMATION SOURCES
.gov.uk
.org.uk
.ac.uk
.co.uk
.com
Blogs
flickr

5.  Currency – How up to date and relevant is it?
 Accessibility – How easy is it to find and read?
 Academic Rigour – How reliable and trustworthy is
it?
 Bias – How much does it avoids just one viewpoint?
 Author - Who is the author, are they an expert?
FIND IT!
EVALUATING SOURCES

6. FIND IT!
EVALUATE WEBSITES
Credible Domains: Published by:
.ac.uk a UK university
.edu an American university
.gov.uk or scotland.gov.uk the UK or Scottish government
.nhs.uk or .scot.nhs.uk the NHS or the NHS in Scotland
Other sites - Check:
1. Is it Authored?
2. Is it clear?
3. Does it give the information it said it would?
4. Is it relevant?
5. Can you check who the author is?
6. Is it dated?
7. Is it non-biased?

7. http://www.dhmo.org/ - Dihydrogen Monoxide
Sounds like a very dangerous chemical indeed..
http://www.mavav.org/ - Mothers Against Videogame Addiction and
Violence
Very good indeed; the background to the site is very informative
www.malepregnancy.com – don’t panic boys!
FIND IT!
EVALUATE WEBSITES
Some dodgy websites………..

8. FIND IT!
• Eclipse.net – the HACA library catalogue
• Use it to search for relevant books, DVDs and
educational websites
• Access the catalogue via school PCs/HACA website/
get the Imls app
• A Level Subject Magazines:
• Biological Sciences Review
• Business Review
• Chemistry Review
• English Review
• Geography Review
• Physics Review
• Psychology Review
• Wider reading on every 6th Form subject – Reading lists on
website
HACA LRC

9. • 6th Form subject text books
• Careers information
• Writing your CV
• Writing your Personal Statement
• University applications
• Driving Theory Test
• Highway Code
• A Level subject magazines
• Newspapers
• A guide to where to find your subjects in the library
• “Selected for 6th Form” fiction
• Access to Eclipse
FIND IT!
LRC 6th FORM AREA

10. FIND IT!
• Oxford Reference – Quick and easy access to quality A-Z reference
information.
• Oxford Art Online – Grove Art Online, the Benezit Dictionary of Artists,
and other Oxford art reference resources.
• Oxford Music Online – Oxford music reference products online.
• Issues Online – Useful articles summarising over sixty topics for school
projects and general interest giving key facts, key statistics, lobby group links,
newspaper archives, reference sites and research guides.
• Oxford Dictionary of National Biography –Biographies of the people
(no longer alive) who shaped the history of the British Isles and beyond
• Newsbank – What the papers say about topics of interest.
• English & Media Magazine
• New Scientist
• The Spectator
• The Economist
• A Level Review magazines online access
HACA LRC ONLINE RESOURCES
Access via HACA website – Key Information – LRC – Online Resources

11. FIND IT!
OTHER PLACES TO SEARCH
• Bexley Libraries
• Online access to newspaper databases, magazines and journals,
e books
• Kent Libraries (eg Darford)
• Excellent e book library, and Dawsonera an e book platform for
academic books
• www.sweetsearch.com
A Search Engine for Students. It searches only credible Web sites
approved by Internet research experts.
• The British Library
• Keeps a copy of everything published in the UK. You can arrange to
visit.
• Project Gutenberg
• Largest single collection of free to download e books, fiction and
non-fiction

12. FIND IT!
LOOK AT THE INFORMATION ON THE LRC
STUDY SKILLS BOARD

13. FIND IT!
GO BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
• iTunes U – Free podcasts, video lectures, reading recommendations
• www.staircase12.org Contains interviews and book reviews from current
students at University College Oxford
• TED - Watch talks from experts from a variety of fields
• Google Scholar – Allows you to search for free scholarly literature
• Websites of Professional organisations eg
http://www.rsc.org – Royal Society of Chemistry
http://www.history.org.uk – The Historical Association
• Read from the Wider Reading lists on HACA Website
• Read Newspapers!