Academy of Notre DameAcademy of Notre Dame

Research EssentialsResearch Essentials

Let’s begin at the beginning…Let’s begin at the beginning…

Access Academy of Access Academy of Notre Dame website at:Notre Dame website at:

http://www.ndapa.orghttp://www.ndapa.org

Library WebpageLibrary Webpage

Under “Academics” click “Connelly Library” Under “Academics” click “Connelly Library” from the Notre Dame Homepagefrom the Notre Dame Homepage

Click “Databases” in left-hand column for a Click “Databases” in left-hand column for a list of library Databases list of library Databases Usernames and passwords are all “ndapaUsernames and passwords are all “ndapa””

Other links available in the left-hand columnOther links available in the left-hand column Research Project PathfindersResearch Project Pathfinders Student linksStudent links Need a Good Book?Need a Good Book? Current Events linksCurrent Events links

PathfindersPathfinders

3 benefits of pathfinders3 benefits of pathfinders Identify resources in the library specific to student Identify resources in the library specific to student

projects thereby reducing time/legwork required projects thereby reducing time/legwork required by studentby student

Help librarians to evaluate the collectionHelp librarians to evaluate the collection Help students learn to develop their own personal Help students learn to develop their own personal

pathfinderspathfinders

Pathfinders cont.:Pathfinders cont.:

Note the layout of a pathfinder:Note the layout of a pathfinder: Call numbersCall numbers (for browsing shelves) (for browsing shelves) KeywordsKeywords (for searching Library Catalog, (for searching Library Catalog,

Databases, and Internet)Databases, and Internet) Good idea to start with Good idea to start with PrintPrint resources resources

ReferenceReference books usually give a nice overview books usually give a nice overview of topic and can provide additional keywordsof topic and can provide additional keywords

NonfictionNonfiction (use Table of Contents and Index) (use Table of Contents and Index)

Pathfinders cont.:Pathfinders cont.:

Move on to Move on to DatabasesDatabases (access from library (access from library Web page)Web page) Some are subject-specific (Science Online, Teen Some are subject-specific (Science Online, Teen

Health and Wellness, World Geography)Health and Wellness, World Geography) Some are general (SIRS, Issues and Controversies, Some are general (SIRS, Issues and Controversies,

Student Resources In Context)Student Resources In Context)

Pathfinders Pathfinders (Databases)(Databases) cont.: cont.:

Keyword or Browse searchKeyword or Browse search Keyword ex. – (enter in search box) “Steroids” or Keyword ex. – (enter in search box) “Steroids” or

“Doping” or “Performance Enhancing Drugs” or “Doping” or “Performance Enhancing Drugs” or “Hormonal Regulation”“Hormonal Regulation”

Browse ex. – (follow the path) Social Studies – Browse ex. – (follow the path) Social Studies – Sociology – Social Issues – Civil Rights (broad to Sociology – Social Issues – Civil Rights (broad to specific)specific)

Pathfinders cont.:Pathfinders cont.: And finally, the And finally, the Internet:Internet:

Webpath ExpressWebpath Express A search engine built into our library catalogA search engine built into our library catalog Only accesses “educator-approved” sitesOnly accesses “educator-approved” sites

Nettrekker Nettrekker A search engineA search engine Only accesses “educator-approved” sitesOnly accesses “educator-approved” sites Can be found on library Web page with other DatabasesCan be found on library Web page with other Databases

Sweet Search, Infotopia.Info, DuckDuckGoSweet Search, Infotopia.Info, DuckDuckGo

Internet cont.:Internet cont.:

Caution when using Google:Caution when using Google: Information on the Internet is not consistently reviewed Information on the Internet is not consistently reviewed

for accuracy by anyone; therefore…..for accuracy by anyone; therefore….. There is a lot of inaccurate and biased informationThere is a lot of inaccurate and biased information

However….However…. There is also a lot of accurate and authoritative There is also a lot of accurate and authoritative

information……….you have to make the call (i.e. information……….you have to make the call (i.e. evaluate)evaluate)

Databases vs. the InternetDatabases vs. the InternetEvaluationEvaluation Databases Databases

Information is educator-approved, quality information Information is educator-approved, quality information You find it, you use itYou find it, you use it

InternetInternet Information will need to be evaluated for accuracy, bias, and authority by you Information will need to be evaluated for accuracy, bias, and authority by you You find it, you evaluate it, you “possibly” use itYou find it, you evaluate it, you “possibly” use it

CitationsCitations Databases Databases

Usually provide citationsUsually provide citations Very helpful when preparing Bibliography or Works CitedVery helpful when preparing Bibliography or Works Cited

Internet Internet Can be tricky to citeCan be tricky to cite No “standard” in citation information providedNo “standard” in citation information provided

Speaking of citations….Speaking of citations….

NoodleBibNoodleBib Found on library Web page with other Databases Found on library Web page with other Databases

under “NoodleTools”under “NoodleTools”

MLA and APA Starter, Junior and Advanced MLA and APA Starter, Junior and Advanced

Make sure to link your account to Notre Dame for Make sure to link your account to Notre Dame for full access (first time login credentials “ndapa”)full access (first time login credentials “ndapa”)

Citations cont.:Citations cont.:

Bibliography or Works Cited pageBibliography or Works Cited page BibliographyBibliography lists all sources used in the completion of lists all sources used in the completion of

your projectyour project Works CitedWorks Cited lists only those works that are specifically lists only those works that are specifically

cited in your papercited in your paper

In-Text CitationsIn-Text Citations

In-text citations (also called parenthetical citations)In-text citations (also called parenthetical citations) When paraphrasing or using direct quotes in your paper, When paraphrasing or using direct quotes in your paper,

you must cite “in the text” where the information came you must cite “in the text” where the information came from from

Ties the information in your paper to its source in your Ties the information in your paper to its source in your bibliography/works cited pagebibliography/works cited page

NoodleBib identifies what an in-text citation should NoodleBib identifies what an in-text citation should look like after you cite your sourcelook like after you cite your source

NotecardsNotecards

Source cardsSource cards – cite only bibliographic – cite only bibliographic information on these (title, author, publisher, information on these (title, author, publisher, copyright, etc.)copyright, etc.)

Information cardsInformation cards (one idea or thought per (one idea or thought per card)card) paraphrase/direct quote/original thoughtparaphrase/direct quote/original thought

Notecards cont.:Notecards cont.:

Assign each Source card a number or letter Assign each Source card a number or letter Give corresponding number or letter to each Give corresponding number or letter to each

Information card from that source (see Information card from that source (see examples available in library)examples available in library)

Ideal to use a larger or colored index card as Ideal to use a larger or colored index card as your Source card to distinguish from your Source card to distinguish from Information cards (see examples available in Information cards (see examples available in library)library)

Avoid PlagarismAvoid Plagarism

Two main reasons to cite your sourcesTwo main reasons to cite your sources First and foremost…..to give credit where First and foremost…..to give credit where

credit is duecredit is due Secondly, to find a path back to your sourceSecondly, to find a path back to your source

This becomes extremely important with This becomes extremely important with projects requiring a high number of projects requiring a high number of sources to be usedsources to be used

Big 6 Research ProcessBig 6 Research Process Define your topicDefine your topic Identify sourcesIdentify sources Locate sourcesLocate sources Analyze InformationAnalyze Information Synthesize InformationSynthesize Information Evaluate your workEvaluate your work

Not a linear processNot a linear process Continually re-visit past stepsContinually re-visit past steps

Spend ample time on first stepSpend ample time on first step Pre-researchPre-research Provides a good foundation upon Provides a good foundation upon

which to buildwhich to build Step 2 aligns with personal Step 2 aligns with personal

pathfinderspathfinders What do I need? What do I need? Where can I find it?Where can I find it?

Analyze vs. SynthesizeAnalyze vs. Synthesize Read what others have to sayRead what others have to say Organize this informationOrganize this information Now, what do you have to say?Now, what do you have to say?

Evaluation is a type of self-Evaluation is a type of self-assessmentassessment

Conducted before Conducted before andand after turning after turning assignment inassignment in