This document provides tips and guidance for students completing an extended essay. It discusses researching the topic by exploring library resources like books and databases. Students are advised to brainstorm topics with others, keep good notes, and evaluate sources for reliability. The document reviews using catalog searches, exploratory reading, books, and databases to find relevant information. It also covers citing sources properly to avoid plagiarism and encourages seeking help from librarians.

1. EXTENDED ESSAY
Library Resources

2. Select Catalog tab to look up books.
Scroll down to
see databases.

3. Keyword search is
most broad =
most books.

4. Click on Details to
find a list of
subjects (key
words for further
searching)
Write
down
title, call
number.
Then
check the
shelves..

5. VALUABLE TIPS FOR THE
EXTENDED ESSAY
Keep a research journal to jot down notes, key
words, topics, subtopics, ideas, reminders,
possible sources, source info, etc.
 Brainstorming with a teacher or another student
can help generate great ideas for how to
approach a topic.
 Stick with either MLA format or another format.
Do not use both! Easybib.com is free for MLA.
 Evaluate each source. How do you know the
author is reliable & knowledgable? Is the
information still current?
 Don’t procrastinate!


6. EXPLORATORY READING – KNOW YOUR
TOPIC!

“Gaining an initial appreciation of a topic or
publication – Putting a subject into context to
understand the individual components in
connection with each other….providing you with
insights into historical and cultural
background...”
(http://www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/studyskills/new/libra
ryandresearch/whento.html)

As you read or skim, write a list of key words to
look up on the catalog or in databases, so you can
find out more information.
This will also help you narrow your topic!

7. USING BOOKS
Read summaries of a topic you enjoy in general and
specialized encyclopedias. Note the different
treatments and connections between subtopics.
 Look at other books in the same section of the library
as other books you look up.
 Use Table of Contents and the index in books for
keywords. Search for those words in the catalog and
databases.
 Look for a bibliography or “Suggestions for Further
Reading” at the end of a source to find more
information on the topic.
 http://library.acadiau.ca/help/tutorials.html


8. QUESTIA
www.questiaschool.com
15,000 full-text ebooks at your fingertips 24/7!

See your IB coordinator or librarian for access.
Click on View Demo to see video on full instructions.

9. Good for
finding
background
information

10. DATABASES






IBO EE readers prefer you stay away from websites!
Databases have journal, book, newspaper, and book
articles that aren’t available on the internet.
Information is more reliable (put together by experts).
Anyone can publish anything on the internet!
Information is usually more current.
Many different ways to narrow or broaden search.
You know exactly where the information came from.



Databases usually give you the citation = less work!
Wikipedia is a wiki (editable by anyone).
If you use a website, make sure it’s reliable:
Who wrote it, when, and where did they get their
info? What makes this person an expert???

11. USING BOOLEAN OPERATORS
AND – looks up both or all words but they will not
necessarily be next to each other
 OR – Finds articles with any of the words, not all – broad
search (more hits but not as specific)
 NOT – Will find articles that don’t have the word after the
word Not - Example – New Orleans AND football NOT
hurricane
 “phrase search” – Use quotes around the exact phrase you
want to look for – very specific and very narrow search Example – “As I Lay Dying”
 Add words to get fewer results. Deduct words for more.
 Truncation – Using * brings back words with same root.
Example: inform* brings back articles with the words
inform, informs, information, informing
Also try the Advanced Search Feature which typically uses
boolean operators.


12. UNDERSTANDING
BOOLEAN OPERATORS
http://www.mountsaintvincent.edu/library2/venn.htm
Example:
(roach* or cockroach*) and (exterminat* or kill*) not
conveyor
I’m looking for a way to kill roaches, but I don’t want
information about the Roach conveyor belt system.
The advanced search engine typically uses boolean
operators, so try it first if there is one.

13. See list of database
logins and passwords
on circulation desk.

14. Use boolean operators and keywords.
Only select
relevant
databases.

15. (narrow)
Click on
full-text to
go straight
to the
article.
Use Journal and Book
tabs for scholarly info.
Article
Type

16. Remember
to copy the
citation into
your Works
Cited &
proofread it.
(IB requires
the URL at
the end.)

17. Copy the
citation
format
that you’re
using for
your essay,
but check
to make
sure it’s in
the latest
ed. (i.e.
MLA 7th) &
correct.

18. PLAGIARISM
Using someone else’s phrases, words, ideas, charts,
music, graphics, data, etc. without giving him or her
credit.
 Use quotation marks around other people’s words
and put the author’s name and page number in
parentheses after. Then list the source in the Works
Cited page. Use www.easybib.com to create citations.
 Paraphrasing – Even if you put someone’s words into
your own words, it is still plagiarism unless you put
his or her name in parenthesis afterwards and
include the source information in your Works Cited
page. Don’t change just one or two words!
 When in doubt, cite it!


19. LET A LIBRARIAN….
Help you find information you need
 Help you find the source info for citations
 Help you understand how to cite information
 Help you locate the right database
 Help you use the database


It’s our job to help you! 