I Wonder… How to Do Research for the I Wonder Project? Irvington High School Library Research Tutorial, last updated September 2011.

I Wonder…How to Do Research for the I Wonder Project?

Irvington High School Library Research Tutorial, last updated September 2011

Scientific Researchers Use a Variety of Sources

• Book• Reference• Interview• Periodical

• Academic Journal• Websites

Where to Start “Wondering” on the Web

• Internet Public Library:www.ipl2.org• Alameda County Subject Guides:www.aclibrary.org Research

Research/Subject Guides Science Science• Google Advanced Search:www.google.com/advanced_searchCan limit by domain type! (just .gov, .edu, or .org)

Citing Websites in MLA format

Williams, Nora. “Children Having Children.” Institute for

Children and Poverty. Institute for Children and

Poverty, 7 Aug. 2010. Web. 16 Sept. 2010.

<http://www.icpny.org/index.asp?CID=0>.

How to find citation info on a website

#3: Publisher

#2: Site title

#1: Page title

How to find citation info on a website cont.

If no date published at the top, use last updated or copyright date at the bottom, even if they only give you a year:

Here’s the citation again. The last part is the medium (Web or Print)

and the date you researched it.

Williams, Nora. “Children Having Children.” Institute for

Children and Poverty. Institute for Children and

Poverty, 7 Aug. 2010. Web. 7 Sept. 2011.

<http://www.icpny.org/index.asp?CID=0>.

The URL goes at the end, in angle brackets: < >

Make sure it doesn’t turn into a blue, underlined hyperlink! If it does, hit Undo (Ctrl + Z)

Williams, Nora. “Children Having Children.” Institute for

Children and Poverty. Institute for Children and

Poverty, 7 Aug. 2010. Web. 16 Sept. 2010.

<http://www.icpny.org/index.asp?CID=0>.

More About Databases…

• Databases are organized collections of info online

• You don’t have to go to the library to get articles

• Easy to find scientific research

You Need a Library Card• Sign up for an e-cardsee the link at

irvington.org/library

www.aclibrary.orgUnder “Research,” click on A-Z Resources

Finding the right database…You can search by the name of the database, if you know it…

Or by the subject, like “Science”

Each database is a collection of hundreds of articles about certain topics. Choose a database & log in using

your library card number.

Search for articles. Click “limit to full text” before you search

Some databases that might help you, at www.aclibrary.org

Environmental Studies and Policy Collection: Covers Environmental issuesWhat do I do if it sounds like it’s written by a MAD SCIENTIST???

1. Look up words youdon’t know2. If there are too manywords you don’t know, try another source3. NEVER put anything in your paper you don’t understand!

GreenFILE

Current environmental issues. Tip: On the left, you have options to “refine

your search” (narrow it). Click “full text” and update.

Can narrow by year if you need really new articles.

Science in Context

• Linked to curriculum

• Divided by type of science

Grzimek’s Animal Life

• Based on the encyclopedia• More than 4,000 animals• Tip: Click on “Show All” next to “Resources,” to gettheir bibliography.

Citing Journal Articles

Author. “Article Title.” Journal Title volume.issue (year):

pages. Medium. Date.

Dolby, Nadine. “New Research on Causes of Earthquake

Activity in California.” American Journal of

Seismology 6.2 (2008): 595-600. Web. 20 May 2009.

Citation Help

• The Purdue OWL: Search for “Purdue OWL MLA”

• Your planner