Research Strategiesfor the

Upper Grades

By Rachel ShanklesLakeside High School, Hot Spgs

Problem: How do we get the students to use print sources first?

Resolution:• Meet with teachers prior to research unit• Agree on requiring print (books and mags)

EBSCO & database sources• Agree the general Internet searching should

be last step after a lesson on advanced searching in Google

Methods to achieve these goals• Require each student to have a research folder of some type;

three ring 1” binder or paper folder or envelope or manila folder (you supply or they supply or you could sell to them)

• Require them to have a highlighter (we sell these and note cards that we buy at the Dollar Store)

• Require that every source used in the research paper must be copied and placed in this folder that will be turned in with the paper

• Give free copy days during print resource days in the library and supply a three-hole punch

• Make sure your workers also copy the title page and the verso page to insure the kids have the citation info needed when they copy pages from any book

Time Line forMost Research Classes

• First two days use books, bound or shelved magazines, vertical files and mark pages to get the free copies

• Require approx. 3 source cards from books and 2 others from mags or vertical files to be turned in at end of second day

• This forces them to use print sources first

Timeline (cont’d)

• Third day- review how to access and use EBSCOhost database for magazines and newspapers, teach them to select appropriate databases and to check mark the full text button (MAS is the main database recommended for high school students), review Boolean Logic for keyword searching

• Require they print the whole article so it will be date stamped, etc.

• Require at least 2 EBSCO source cards by end of day• Hand out home login code sheet for EBSCO and the

other databases you have

Timeline (cont’d)

• Fourth day- review the appropriate databases with the class depending on whether it is English or history or other areas of research and have a handout on how to cite your databases

• We use Infotrac Discovering Series for history, literature, science; Opposing Viewpoints for OC, history and English pro/con papers; and Contemporary Literary Criticism for Lit papers -also by Gale and Culturegrams by Proquest for foreign language and global studies

• Require that they print out the entire articles from databases and do not cut and paste so that the source citation (in all Gale databases) is on the page

Timeline (cont’d)• Last day of a week-long research class – go over

Advanced Search in Google and how to key in .edu or .gov/.mil only as your parameters

• Review evaluating Internet resources and explain why Wikipedia is not a credible source for research papers (for general info , yes)

• Review citing web pages and finding date posted or revised and the responsible party like the University name or the governmental agency responsible for the page

• Make sure any .com and .org cites are approved by the teacher before including them in a paper

• Require they print the webpage so it will be date-stamped to contain the day they accessed it

Suggestions• Teach Boolean logic, search strategies, using Google

Advanced Search as the search engine of choice, evaluating web pages, and citing online resources ---in your Library Orientation classes and review these as needed for upper grade classes

• Have handouts readily available for home logins and MLA citation style sheets

• Meet with each department to plan major research units and suggest appropriate materials and source requirements/time frame---and get them to use your print resources first then online resources (cause some times the computers don’t work)

• If we don’t get this across, the library will turn into a computer lab and we will be replaced by a technician

Email me to get slide shows on any of the topics we have discussed

Rachel_Shankles @LS1.dsc.k12.ar.usShankles @cablelynx.com