ES Research Guide: Home

Research is all about exploring ideas and information to make new discoveries. To be a successful researcher, you must plan your research from beginning to end. You start by reviewing your assignment.

Before you begin finding information for your research project, think about what you already know about the topic. What information are you looking for? Think about the keywords and questions you might have.

• Have you read any books on the topic?
• Have you seen any movies about it?
• Have you looked at any websites which have good information about the topic?
• Why are you interested in this topic?

• Use a KWL chart to list what you already know and what you need find out.

Selecting the right resources is important in the research process because it helps you find accurate and reliable information. Using the right resources is like building a strong foundation for your research project.

It is important that you know where to find information, whether it's a book in the library or information online. You have access to all kinds of information sources, but you need to know where to look to find the BEST information that answers your research questions.

When planning for your sources, consider this:

• Limit your investigation to a manageable size.
• Identify and locate possible primary and secondary resources using the MISO method.
• When looking online start with databases first. This is where you will find the most reliable information at your reading level. Decide what databases you will use and brainstorm key search words and phrases.
• If you use a search engine to find information, you must evaluate the website first to make sure it is credible.

Research is about inquiry. Inquiry involves exploring ideas and information to make new discoveries, and it starts with asking questions. 

Form your essential or guiding question

• It is the main question that will guide your research.
• It restates what you specifically want to learn about, but as a question.
• Don't worry if you are not totally sure; your essential question may change before you are done.
• Brainstorm subtopics you could investigate to help answer your essential question. This may require more background reading.

Develop focus questions based on the subtopics you identified

• Each focus question covers one aspect or part of the essential question.  
• They will guide you as you work so that you will read and take notes only on what is needed for your project.
• As you research, you may need to add, remove, or change some of your focus questions. 
• See the examples in the table below.

(Credit to Oregon School Library Information System)

Research questions should drive your research. Well-crafted research questions serve as the foundation of your project. Questions should be open-ended Questions should align with learning goals Questions should guide your investigation towards a meaningful outcome.   When creating questions, use open questions to develop hight-order thinking skills.

Take a look at this BrainPop movie to learn more about Primary and Secondary resources. Click here for database passwords or click here to access Clever. Using primary and secondary resources is important because it helps us gather information from different perspectives.

Primary resources are like being a detective; you investigate firsthand sources such as diaries, letters, or photographs to learn directly from the people who experienced the events.

Secondary resources are like gathering information from others; you look at books, articles, or documentaries that analyze and interpret the primary sources to gain a deeper understanding.

By using both types of resources, you can paint a more complete picture of what you're studying and have a better understanding of history, science, or any topic we are exploring. It's like putting together a puzzle with all the pieces to see the whole picture clearly.

Our library has many nonfiction books and ebooks that will help with researching. All the nonfiction books you find in our library collection (both print and online) are credible. Be sure to look at the publishing date of books. Remember, you want the most current, updated information. Most of our online resources can be accessed through a single sign on with Clever. SIGN-IN using your Microsoft WAB username and password. If you cannot access the database you want through Clever, click here for the database passwords.

 Nonfiction books are organized according to topics. We use the Dewey Decimal System to organize the books.

Credibility means the quality of being trusted or believed in. If you are not using one of the school's subscription databases, you must make sure your resources are credible.

Database Searches Internet Searches The  best place to start research online is with a database. Databases provide information that is relevant, current, and credible. You don't have to evaluate information on a database. It has already been done. Most of our databases and online resources can be accessed through a single sign on with Clever. SIGN-IN using your Microsoft WAB username and password. If you cannot access the database you want through Clever, click here for the database passwords.   Research Databases Image and Sound Databases Open Access Databases   The internet is an uncontrolled environment. Virtually any person can publish almost anything on the internet. As a researcher, it is your job to make sure you have the best, most accurate information. Evaluating Websites When not using a database, you must evaluate a website you find because: The information could be out of date for your topic. The person who wrote it might not have enough expertise in the subject area. The information might not be suitable to your research needs. (Too technical or maybe not enough details.)

If you must do an internet search because you can't find what you want on a school database, use a child-friendly search engine. Child friendly search engines are designed to create a safe online environment. They have content filtering, privacy protection, educational resources, and are easy to use. Some examples of child friendly search engines are

• Safe Search Kids
• Google Kid Search
• Fact Monster
• Kidtopia
• Kiddle

Database and Internet Searches

When performing internet searches, whether it's using a search engine or a database, it pays to be savvy and understand how search engines operate. Learn more about how search engines work to perform internet searches. Click here for database passwords or click here to access Clever.

Using Keywords
Before you start searching for information, you need to choose good keywords for your search. Keywords are common words (but not words such as: of, and, the) that describe the main idea of your topic or question. Three or 4 keywords are usually most helpful. It will save you heaps of time and frustration later in your research process. The right combination of keywords can be the difference between finding good information and finding nothing. 

How to Choose Keywords
The easiest way to choose keywords is to write out your topic sentence or research question and select only the words that describe your topic/question. 

1. For example: What are the causes and consequences of harsh environments?
2. The words that describe your topic are causes, consequences, and harsh environments.
3. Next, come up with as many words that words that mean the same thing (synonyms), are similar words, or are related words. For example: causes (sources, origins), consequences (effects, results) and harsh environments (severe habitats, extreme conditions).

Boolean Operators
Boolean operators are special words (like AND, OR, NOT) that help us search for information more effectively online. They are like secret codes that tell computers exactly what we are looking for. For example, when you search for "cats AND dogs," you are telling the computer to find information that includes both cats and dogs.

These operators are important because they help us narrow down our search results and find exactly what we need. Without them, searching for information on the internet would be like looking for a needle in a haystack! So, by using boolean operators, we can save time and quickly find the information we are seeking.

Practice your Boolean search skills with Boolify.

Note-taking
Knowing how to effectively take notes is necessary for interpreting, organizing, and summarizing information.  It is essential though, to understand the information you are trying to summarize.

Researchers use note-taking when reading and researching information from books and online sources. Effective note-taking is essential to understand and retain information. Having good notes plays an important role in research. 

Reviewing and revising are probably the most important part of taking notes! After taking notes, it is important to re-read and review the information on a regular basis. When reading the notes, it is a good idea to highlight or underline important ideas and add any details that might have been missed. If you add information to your notes, make sure it is accurate).  

Whatever method of note-taking you prefer to use, remember to record the bibliographic details of the information source to keep with your notes.

Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing means putting information you read and learn in your own words, with your own ideas, and writer's voice. Paraphrase when: 

• You plan to use information from your notes and wish to avoid plagiarizing.
• You want to avoid overusing quotations.
• You want to use your own voice to present information.

Active Reading

Once you've organized your information, it is time to draft your project -- to decide how to show what you have learned. Review your organized information:

• Are there any information gaps?
• Does each topic have enough supporting ideas?
• Does each supporting idea have enough details or examples? If not, do more research or determine if the aspect is necessary to include at all.
• Do the topics and sub-topics still seem to be arranged in the best order?

However you decide to present your information, you must make a draft or practice first. Look at your information:

• Use facts from your notes as evidence to support your ideas.
• Use your own words and ideas. Don't copy anything from a book or the internet.
• Clearly communicate the information you learned.
• If you are writing something, you can check spelling and grammar later.
• Clearly cite your sources and create a bibliography.

The final step is to revise your project. Try reading it out loud, performing it, or watching what you produced to be sure it sounds right. Show it to a friend or a relative to review. Ask yourself if this is your best work.  If No then keep revising and editing. If yes, then you are ready to present.

(Credit to Oregon School Library Information System)

What does it mean to Cite Sources
Good researchers use multiple primary and secondary resources when researching a topic. These sources might include books, news articles, databases, and websites to support your own work. Citing sources is a way of showing what resources you have used, giving credit to original authors. Whenever you research, you must cite your source or tell where you have gotten your information. It does not matter if the person whose work you used is alive or dead. If it is not your own idea, you must cite your source. Give credit where credit is due.

Why Citing Sources
Citing is important because you credit other author's ideas; your research is based on substantial facts; and anyone can find all references and images you used. To avoid plagiarism, you have to give credit to the original source of an idea, piece of information, or resource. Citing sources also lets teachers know where you found the original source of information and the original ideas used. Showing what resources you used to help with your research demonstrates your familiarity and knowledge with a particular topic.

What information should be Cited

• Any quoted text - use quotation marks when directly using someone else's words
• Any idea or information paraphrased or summarized from a source which is not common knowledge
  

How to Cite
As you do your research, keep a list of all the sources that you use. Keeping a record of these details will help you to find the source again if you need to refer to it, and will also form the basis of your bibliography list. 

How to Cite
As you do your research, keep a list of all the sources that you use. Keeping a record of these details will help you to find the source again if you need to refer to it, and will also form the basis of your bibliography list. 

Click here to access the Cite A Source Libguide.

MyBib is a FREE bibliography and citation generator that makes accurate citations for you to copy straight into your academic assignments and papers. MyBib can format webpages, books, journals, PDFs, and many other sources.

Academic Honesty is of primary importance when you are doing research.

What is Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the act of presenting another person's work or ideas as your own. Plagiarism is theft of intellectual property, and it's cheating. You avoid plagiarism by ALWAYS giving credit to the sources of ​your information you use for research. Whenever you use words or ideas that you have not thought up yourself, but that you read somewhere else (in books, websites, articles, etc) then you must ALWAYS show where you found your information in your bibliography or works cited page. 

What's Considered Plagiarism

• hand in someone else's work as your own
• copy words or ideas from someone else without giving credit
• fail to put a quotation in "quotation marks" and then cite
• give incorrect information about a source
• substituting words while copying the sentence structure of a source (even if you still give credit)
• copy so many words or ideas from a source that it makes up the majority of your work (even if you still give credit)

Ways to Avoid Plagiarism

• Be organized - Don't leave your work to the last minute. Give yourself plenty of time to conduct research, present information, and take action. Students are most tempted to cut corners and plagiarize when they are hurrying to complete an assignment.

• Take good notes - Do not copy word for word from any source. When taking notes use short phrases and bullet points. If you are copying a sentence word for word, ensure you use quotation marks. Make a note of all the information sources you use as you go along and keep your notes and information sources organized.
• Paraphrase, summarize, or reword information - Do not cut and paste notes. Do not copy word for word or substitute random words. 
• Citing Resources - ALWAYS tell where you got the information from. You should have a bibliography or a works cited page.
• Teacher Librarian - If you need help ask Ms. Rohrbeck.

• Put it in a location where you won't forget it when you leave for school
• Arrange a way to get it to school ahead of time (especially if it is fragile)
• Put it where you won't lose it in your desk or classroom

Be sure

• For written papers:
  • You have the correct due date or the correct time for your presentation
  • Your name on your project
  • You included the citations/bibliography
     
• For technology presentations:
  • Practice your presentation on the equipment you will be using before your due date. If possible, show it to someone else
  • Make sure you have all of the technology pieces you need, and that all are fully charged or have a power supply
  • If something goes wrong with the technology, have a print copy to help you talk your way through the presentation
  • You included the citations/bibliography
     
• For oral presentations:
  • Gather all of your support materials and practice by presenting the speech to others
  • Speak slowly and clearly so the person in the back row can hear you
  • Don’t read off your notes, do look at your audience at different times, and do say thank you to your audience when you are done
  • Be prepared to answer questions about your research
  • You included the citations/bibliography

Celebrate your success!

(Credit to Oregon School Library Information System)

What does it mean to take action?

People who take action have a passion to make change. You are ready to take action when you know your issue well enough to identify solutions that will help the problem. 

Ask yourself the following questions when ​developing the action plan:

• What do you know about the community need? 
• Why is this plan needed?
• How will this plan help?
• Who will help and what will they do?
• What do you expect to happen as a result of our work?
• What evidence will you collect and how will you use it?
•  What do you need to get the job done? 

Ideas for Taking Action: Young Heroes

Greta Thunberg: Who is the teenage climate change activist?

Reflection is what is required at this final stage of the research process. This is the most important part of the learning process. You have learned a substantial amount by going through the research process itself; however, it is when you reflect on the process that deeper learning occurs. By doing this, you examine ways that you can grow as learners.

At this stage of the process you should ask:

• Did I fulfill my purpose?
• How well did the research process work for you?
• How did I do presenting the information?
• What would I do differently next time?
• What did I learn from this process?
• For collaborative group work, did each member fulfill their role?