A Basic Introduction to Researching Using Basic Tools Available at a local public library and in your home! Designed for the great Grade 10 class at Father Michael McGivney Academy in Markham, Ontario.

1. Basic Research Skills

2. What We’ll Learn
Before you Start your Research
 Basic Resources

Using a Library Catalogue
 Using a Database
 Using the Internet

Tips on Putting it All Together
 Apply/Demonstrate What We’ve
Learned


3. First a Few Questions
Who has a library card?
 How many use their library card? Or have
used it in the past year?
 How many of you have a smart phone –
either Android or Iphone?
 How many have Internet access @ home?
 How many are scared by this assignment?


4. Where Do We
Begin?
A Few Things to
Consider

5. Before You Start Your
Research
Have assignment sheet/project sheet
 Know the topic (Preliminary Research)
 Have all questions you want/need to
answer written ahead of time
 Ask questions - your teachers, your
instructors, your librarians
 Track EVERYTHING!
 What do you have to hand in?


6. The Three Basic
Tools:
What Are They?

7. The Tools

Catalogues – directory of what a library has
e.g. books, DVDs, magazines,

Databases – electronic resources with
current/historical info; controlled and
scholarly-reviewed

Internet – e-universe of
everything/anything; not entirely controlled,
massive, but useful

8. How The Resources
Work
Library
Catalogue
Information
Databases
Internet

9. Library Catalogue
Easy to use
 Simple and Advanced Search
 First place you should go to find material
for your assignment
 Need a library card to borrow anything
from the library
 Example:
http://markham.bibliocommons.com


10. The Database
A little more difficult to use
 Open 24/7, can use ANYTIME
 Subject specific or general but can
always find something on your topic
 Full-text articles, or partial-content
 Free to use, IF you have a library card
 Example:
http://www.markhampubliclibrary.ca
click on >> online databases <<


11. But I don’t Want to Use
Those…

Who uses those resources first?

Who uses the Internet first?

Who knows anything about Internet
PowerSearching? Advanced Google
Searching? Filtering Internet Results?
Evaluating Internet Sites?

12. The Internet





Sometimes first and last source
Can find useful AND useless information
Easy to use; dozens of unknown, unused
and powerful search features
Always offer advanced search tips &
search tricks
Google is king of search engines, though
there are a few others…

13. Evaluating Your Sources

What are you looking at when noting
usefulness of a resource?

Origin :: Purpose :: Value :: Limitation
A
more in-depth explanation of evaluting sources can
be found in your assignment sheets…

Other important things to think about:
 Current?
Validate another source? Filled with
inaccuracies? Presents list of sources referred to in
creating document? Are the sources OWN sources
peer-reviewed and/or valid?

14. What’s Next? Breaking Down Your
Assignment
Question…

15. A Simple but Useful
System
Get topic(s)/subject
 Get important terms/break down terms
(note ALL synonyms or similar terms)
 Terms + Catalogue+Database+Search
Engine = Information
 Jot down ALL search strings/phrases
used
 Create bibliography while researching


16. Simple Rules/Strategy

Simple Rules:






This process can be broken down into 5 common steps
known as SKILL:
Summarise your topic in one or two sentences
Keywords and phrases need to be highlighted
Identify synonyms/ alternate terms and variant spellings
Link your keywords and phrases
Locate your information
 @ http://www.library.uq.edu.au/how-to-guides/createsearch-strategy

17. The Last Stages:
Taking All You Have
and Putting It All
Together

18. Putting It All Together






Have checklist of requirements; shape
final work based on requirements
Map final assignment
Track EVERYTHING/evaluate resources
Write/produce assignment (2 rough
copies minimum)
Review work (you or someone else)
Looks weak? Re-write/Do more research

19. Sample and
Demonstration:
Applying What We
Know!

20. Let’s Begin Searching

Library Catalogue
e.g. Markham Public Library
@ http://markham.bibliocommons.com


Database Searching
e.g. MPL E-Resources
@ http://www.markhampubliclibrary.ca


Internet Search Engine

e.g. Google (scholar & books) & PDF Search
Engine – http://www.google.com

23. Extras

Mobile Site and Apps (for Iphone and Android)
Markham Public Library App – What’s
available, reserve items, library card barcode
JUST IN CASE you forget your card
 CAMScanner App – Can take pictures of print
documents (e.g. book covers, specific pages in
a book) & convert them (PDFs) & can email
 In-depth Presentation found @
http://theinformationsepulchre.wordpress.co
m/


24. A Side Note:

Expectations of Colleges/Universities:






Critical thinking skills
Research skills
Writing skills
Using all (as they are interdependent)
Most important is critical thinking
Critical Thinking:

The kind of thinking which seeks to explore questions
about existing knowledge for issues which are not
clearly defined and for which there are no clear-cut
answers.

25. Why is Critical Thinking
Important?

In general, students who develop critical
thinking skills are more able to:
achieve better marks
 become less dependent on teachers and
textbooks
 create knowledge (or a logical point of view)
 evaluate, challenge and change the
structures in society

Source: Orientation Lecture Series LEARNING TO LEARN:
Developing critical thinking skills

26. Questions?