When doing research, always start with current reference books, textbooks and non-fiction library books. Learn some basic information about your subject and start a list of "keywords" you can use to gain more information on your topic. Use the library's OPAC to check your resources. To find a list of titles in our library that apply to this project type in "Woods/Early American " in OPAC and select the "Categories" icon.
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Before you use OPAC you should make a list of all the keywords you could use in researching your subject. |
Remember: When doing research you need to look at the second page of cataloging and review the "notes" section of the page to find out information about the book. Also use the "subject" section of the page and look at the subject headings listed for the book. Using these subject headings is an excellent way to narrow or broaden your subject search. They can also provide you with additional keywords to use in searching for your topic. Use your bookbag while doing research using OPAC. It helps keep your research on track, provides you bibliographic information for your project, and will save you time
in locating information in the library.
If you have forgotten how to use the library's OPAC check out the How to Use OPAC from the Library Information page of this site. Be sure to check out the Reference Section of the library first for specialized encyclopedias, dictionaries, atlases and almanacs to start your project.
Hints!
- On sets of encyclopedias look in the index for your keywords
- With any reference or non-fiction title always use the index to locate the information you need.
- On sets of reference books that are divided by year look only at the books that cover the years your paper needs.
Some of the Reference Books you could use are:
| R 031 - - - |
General Encyclopedias |
| R 031 DIC |
Dictionary of the History of Ideas: Studies of Selected Pivotal Ideas |
| R 300.3 INT |
International encyclopedia of the Social Sciences |
| R 301 CAY |
Encyclopedia of American Social History |
| R 320.09 POL |
Political Theories for Students |
| R 321.8 |
The Encyclopedia of Democracy |
| R 808.81 POE |
Poetry for Students: Presenting Analysis, Context and Criticism on Commonly Studied Poetry ( have this resource in print and online [Gale Group]) |
| R 808.83 SHO |
Short Stories for Students: Presenting Analysis, Context and Criticism on Commonly Studied Short Stories |
| R 809 LIT |
Literature and Its Times: Profiles of 300 Notable Literary works and the Historical Events that Influenced Them |
| R 809 LIT |
Literature Criticism from 1400 to 1800 (Check local public library for this title) |
| R 809.04 NIN |
Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism |
| R 809.3 NOV |
Novels for Students: presenting Analysis, Context and Criticism on Commonly Studied Novels ( have this resource in print and online [Gale Group]) |
| R 810.9 CAM |
The Cambridge History of American Literature |
| R 810.9 HAR |
The Oxford Companion to American Literature |
| R 920 PUR |
The vice Presidents: A Biographical Dictionary |
| R 920.02 McG |
The McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of world biography: An International Reference Work ( have this resource in print and online [Gale Group]) |
| R 970 MAG |
Magill's History of North America |
| R 970.004 BIR |
The Encyclopedia of North American Indians |
| R 970.004 UXL |
UXL Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes |
| R 973 ANN |
The Annals of America |
| R 973 ENC |
Encyclopedia of American History |
| R 973.022 ALB |
Album of American History |
| R 973.03 DIC |
Dictionary of American History ( have this resource in print and online [Gale Group]) |
| R 973.03 HIR |
Dictionary of Cultural Literacy |
| R 973.2 PUR |
Colonial America to 1763 |
| R 973.3 SAA |
Colonial America: Almanac |
| R 973.2 TAY |
Writer's Guide to Everyday Life in Colonial American: From 1607-1783. |
| R 973.3 PUR |
Revolutionary America, 1763 to 1800 |
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O = 
Use these resources every day! If you need them the usernames and passwords are provided. Our online resources are:
and
These are password protected databases that you can access 24/7 from school or home. Get the URLs, usernames, and passwords from your librarian. They work like a search engine but contain information that is not available for free on the World Wide Web. College students use similar databases for their research projects.
The Gale Group resources has five different databases:
and
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W =  (Pre-selected web sites)
A webliography is similar to a bibliography only it's on the web. This is the webliography selected by your teacher or Mrs. Bowen to assist you with your project.
About.com : women's history : writers : authors, poets & publishers
The Anerican Collection: Educator's Site
American Indians.com: Chief Red Jacket
American Presidents : life portraits
The Arthur Miller Society Official web Site
The Avalon Project at Harvard Law School: The Papers of Thomas Jefferson
Bartleby.com: Nathaniel Hawthorne
A Brief History of Jamestown
Civilization: The Explorers
Colonial Williamsburg
Digital Schomburg American Women Writers of the 19th Century
Early American and Colonial Literature to 1700
Early American and Colonial Period to 1776
The Electric Ben Franklin: The Autobiography of BenJamin Franklin
eNotes.com: Crevecoeur, Michel Gullaume Jean de
A Guide to Classic Mystery and Detection
Internet modern history sourcebook : Colonial North America
Landmarks of American Nature Writing
Literature and Life: The Givens Collection
The Massachusetts Historical Society: Adams Family Papers
Milestone Historic Events in Early American History
Notable Women of Early America
PAL: Perspectives in American Literature: A Research and Reference Guide (Excellent Resource)
PAL: Perspectives in American Literature: A Research and Reference Guide: Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864)
PAL: Perspectives in american Literature: A Research and Reference Guide: Sarah Kemble Knight (1666-1727)
PAL: Perspectives in American Literature: A Research and Reference Guide: St. Jean de Crevecoeur
Pocahontas
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)
The Thomas Jefferson Papers
Thomas Jefferson: Architect of a Nation
Thomas Jefferson: Monticello
Hint!
If you don't find what you were looking for in the Webliography check out Web Feet and the Encyclopedia Britannica Online. All web sites from these resources have been evaluated for you.
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Once you have learned about your subject by visiting all of the books, online programs, and web sites recommended by Mrs. Bowen and Mr. Woods, and you still need more information it is time to search the web. BEWARE! Search engines are not all created equal and you need to learn what types of information each will provide and how that information is presented. Take a few minutes and check out the links listed below. You will also need to know about the "invisible web" and how to access its information.
Introduction to Search Tools
Search engines
How to Find a Specialized Search Engine for Your Topic
Invisible web
If you use a search engine to find material you must always evaluate the site you wish to use. To help you in evaluating your site use the Web Site evaluation Guide.
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And now back to the Big 6!
Step #4: Use of Information Engage the source (read it, listen to it, view it, touch it!) and take out the relevant information. If you can't understand any of it, be sure to ask Mr. Woods to help you. It's OK not to understand, it's not OK not to ask for help. Make sure that you check out "Ideas About Note Taking and Citing Sources" from the Use of Information page.
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Step #5: Synthesis You will need to:
- Organize information from multiple sources
- Present the information
To help you in writing your paper you may want to use the "Writing Process Organizer for Grades 7-12." Unfortunately, this page will not allow you type on it, but you can print it out and use it as a guide for your paper.
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Step #6: Evaluation To evaluate your product you will need to:
- Judge your product (how effective were you)
- Judge your information problem-solving process (how efficient were you?)
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Here are some additional pages and sites to help you put your paper together and evaluate your product.
Style Guides
To find out how to cite a source go to the MLA Guide and/or the Help with Citing Sources (Internet) guide. The Landmark Citation Machine is also an excellent resource for all types of citations. You can also use the Toolbox of the Gale online database and find a citing online reference works section.
Copyright Information
Always check your information against copyright laws to make sure you are not violating any rules and are not accused of plagiarism. Copyright Information
The Big 6 Rubric
This is a rubric (guideline) to help you understand the effort you need to put into the process of doing research. If you do not understand a task ask your teacher or Mrs. Bowen, the librarian. Both will be able to help you. Click Here for the Big 6 Rubric.
Editing Checklist
This is a guideline to use to edit your paper for errors. Print it out to use as you proofread your paper. Click Here for checklist.
Research Project Final Evaluation Form
This is a form that either students or teachers can use to evaluate research projects. Click Here for the Evaluation Form. Print it out and use it as you evaluate your project.
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