2. RESEARCH IS …
• The process by which you find information you need for:
• School projects
• Volunteer/extracurricular activities
• Any number of tasks after high school (College applications, anyone?)
• Fun. (Yes, research can be fun. I promise.)
3. THE “BIG THREE”
Before you begin any research project, answer these three questions:
1. What am I looking for?
2. Where can I find it?
3. How do I know that I can trust the information I’ve found?
4.
5. SOME SIMPLE RULES
• When defining what you’re looking for, be specific. A general topic will
only be overwhelming and frustrating.
• Changing direction is not the same as having no direction at all.
• It’s OK to change topics if you find your first one isn’t working for you.
6.
7. WHERE DO I START?
Start with the large and general, and
work toward the small and specific.
Some good general sources:
• Encyclopedias
• Short, basic bibliographies
• Summary articles
9. Once you’ve gathered your general sources, gradually
work your way into sources with more specific
information.
Topic: Describe the
influence Edgar Allan Poe’s
writing had on later
American fiction writers
Encyclopedia: Edgar Allan Poe
(major works; themes;
influences) Narrow
topic to: modern horror
writers Search for
books: Edgar Allan Poe;
American fiction, post-1850;
Literature Resources from
Gale: Search for “Edgar Allan
Poe” + “horror” + “American” in
advanced search* options.
*If at first you don’t
succeed, always do an
advanced search
10. OTHER SUGGESTED RESOURCES
Provides both general and detailed articles about a variety of notable people,
both in current events and in history.
11. OTHER SUGGESTED RESOURCES
A great resource for school projects about any country, U.S. state, or Canadian
province. Includes information about the people, politics, environment, and
customs of the region. Also includes videos and photos.
12. OTHER SUGGESTED RESOURCES
Excellent resource for projects about current issues, such as health insurance,
the Ebola virus, and offshore drilling. Includes detailed information about the
topic, as well as detailed arguments, both pro and con, regarding the issue.
13.
14. WIKIPEDIA IS A GOOD SOURCE, RIGHT?
Actually, no. This is why.
Wikipedia is a good place to start if you know absolutely nothing
about the topic, but only if you double-check everything
against a more credible source.
“But Wikipedia is so easy to use.”
Well…
15. SO ARE THE GOWYLD DATABASES
GoWYLD databases are free to use by any Wyoming library card holder. If you
have your card, you can access nearly all the sites from anywhere, at any
time.
Plus, information provided on GoWYLD are reviewed for accuracy, so they’re
reliable and trustworthy.
16. HOW TO GET TO GOWYLD
1. Visit www.carbonlibraries.org
and click on the “GoWYLD
Research” link on the left side of
the page.
2. Click on the “Student
Research” link on the following
page.
17. OTHER COOL STUFF ON GOWYLD
• Chilton repair and maintenance library
• Free audiobooks
• Free e-books
• Free digital magazines
All you need is your Wyoming Library Card and your PIN.
(If you don’t know your PIN, your friendly local librarian can find it for you.)
