Research is important in all areas of life: school, work, entertainment, general self-interest. It is a skill that takes practice and patience. Here are some guidelines on conducting effective research:
- Before you research, have a goal and know what you are looking for.
- Research specific issues rather than broad topics. Ex. Too broad: "war". Instead, write specific issues and subtopics: "American war in Afghanistan" or "genocide in Rwanda" or "the danger of hiding Jews during the Holocaust".
- Use search engines such as google.com to locate Internet sources. When typing in a search, be sure to use specific, concise keywords. Do advanced searches when possible. Make sure you spell the words correctly.
- Use school library database: www.ms51library.org. Use the following usernames and passwords.
Database | Username | Password |
World Book | ms51khome | ms51khome |
Proquest (good for general newspaper and magazine articles) | 00bjhvqx6m | Welcome |
NoveList | S6536747 | Password |
American History Resource Center | --- | Tolerance |
SIRS Issues Researcher (good for finding articles on controversial issues) | --- | --- |
Brain Pop | Ms51 | Ms51 |
- Use online magazines, such as:
- Use online newspapers such as:
- New York Times,
- Washington Post,
- Wall Street Journal,
- Los Angeles Times.
- Be careful of tabloids such as the Daily News and New York Post that have a lot of bias.
- Other reputable sources for news and current events:
- Thirteen: - good source for metropolitan news
- BBC - good for world news
- PBS - good way to explore a range of topics
- CNN - news organization
- NPR - a comprehensive, publicly funded radio/news station
- Reuters - another news organization
- When reading websites, look for:
- Trustworthy, professional writers (doctors, lawyers, professors, experts)
- Official government, public, and private organizations
- Avoid sites:
- With spelling, grammar, and informational mistakes
- That are biased – only showing one point of view; one-sided
- That are old and/or not updated regularly
- Where anyone can write information; unprofessional, amateur sites and blogs
- Other: Use www.wikepedia.com as a starting point, but keep in mind it is not a reputable source for academic and professional purposes
- Go to your local library and get help from the librarians who are trained in research. Ask a librarian to help you locate books and other sources.
- Let sources lead you to other sources. Refer to different sections or appendices such as further reading, bibliography, table of contents, etc.
- Assignment: for your next reading response due Friday, choose 2-3 related articles around a specific issue you care about. Print out and annotate your sources. Write a response (at least 2 paragraphs) including: 1) What social issue(s) are addressed in the article? What is the article about? What important facts and information do you learn from the article? 2) What does the article make you think and feel about the issue? What questions do you have after reading the article?
- What to research and how to begin:
- For your issue, you can write about a specific event or person in history or in current events or choose a specific issue such as bullying in schools.
- If there is a specific issue you want to research, go ahead and search for sources on that issue using a variety of links provided above.
- If you don't have an issue in mind, just read the different news sites I provided and just read articles that seem interesting.
- Remember, research is a journey and takes time. And it is okay if you change your mind and narrow down your topic as you research.
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