Research Tools


Hello students,

What is research?
     Every year teachers will assign reports and projects that require you to do research. The root word is "search," and "re" means to do it again. So it means to "search again" in a variety of types of information, including research "tools" such as nonfiction library books, references such as encyclopedias, and Internet Web sites.

What does a research report include?
  • Using facts, not opinions, found in a variety of sources.
  • Using "prior knowledge," things you have learned previously, if you can prove it is accurate. 
  • Using "common knowledge," shared knowledge that most people take for granted, if you can prove it is accurate.
What is the problem?
     If research means using information that you find, it must belong to someone else. How is using it NOT stealing? To answer this question, learn the following.


Things you need to know about: 
Copyright
Fair Use
Fake Web sites
     BoilerPlate: mechanical man
     California's Velcro Crop
     Dog Island
     Federal Vampire and; Zombie Agency
     Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus
     Sellafield Zoo
Information evaluation
     RADCAB: Your Vehicle for Evaluating Information 
Plagiarism

Excellent research and reference portals: 
Calisphere: a world of primary sources and more    
DibDabDoo and Dilly, too! Original news and information articles
Enchanted Learning: Curriculum Material Online 
FactMonster   
Google squared: excellent instant information on your topic    
Google Wonder Wheel: from "bear cubs" sample topic, and tutorial     
Gooru: Free Search Engine for Learning    
Infoplease: All the knowledge you need 
Internet Public Library-Kidspace (ipl2)
Internet Public Library-for teens
Ivy's Search Engines for Kids 
Kidipede    
Linkasaurus: Hundreds of sites in one place
National Geographic 
refdesk 
SCORE: History/Social Science    
SearchQuest: A WebQuest About Search Tools     
SlimeKids search engines (See image below)       
SweetSearch   
Yahooligans, the Web guide for kids


Excellent subject-specific links:
Careers:
History/Social Science   
     Buzzle/History: great links!  
     Kidipede: see links for 7th and 8th units  
Math:
     Ask Dr. Math
     Cool Math: an amusement park of FUN Math!    
     Fraction Adventure Web Quest   
     Kidipede/Math for Kids  
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