Loving Your Loving Your LibraryLibrary

Ms. Boreland’s Ms. Boreland’s guide to research guide to research

and writing and writing excellenceexcellence

Getting the toolsGetting the tools You need to learn to use a complex set of skills in You need to learn to use a complex set of skills in

order to conduct accurate and useful research order to conduct accurate and useful research and communicate your understanding in written and communicate your understanding in written form.form.

Read each task carefully, think for yourself first, Read each task carefully, think for yourself first, attempt the activity and if you are still confused attempt the activity and if you are still confused ask ME for help.ask ME for help.

Enjoy!!Enjoy!!

ContentsContents

Before you startBefore you start Make sure you use a dictionary to understand Make sure you use a dictionary to understand

the meaning of each word in the the meaning of each word in the questionquestion that you are trying to answer that you are trying to answer

You are responsible for keeping your work neat You are responsible for keeping your work neat and organised. Use the headings and sub-and organised. Use the headings and sub-headings from the slideshow and complete headings from the slideshow and complete each task in your work book, OR, ask your each task in your work book, OR, ask your teacher for worksheets to complete. teacher for worksheets to complete.

Think about Think about what you can dowhat you can do – don’t panic – don’t panic

The internet has a lot of information that is The internet has a lot of information that is available in one place.available in one place.

Task 1 – Quick as you canTask 1 – Quick as you can1.1. Create your own research question about an ancient Create your own research question about an ancient

civilizationcivilization2.2. Time how long it takes you to find and record the Time how long it takes you to find and record the

title and author of 4 print resources title and author of 4 print resources 3.3. Now, time how long it takes you to locate and Now, time how long it takes you to locate and

record the URL’s for 4 appropriate internet sources record the URL’s for 4 appropriate internet sources on this topic on this topic

4.4. Identify which method was the most efficient and Identify which method was the most efficient and explain why you think this was the case.explain why you think this was the case.

Locating sources is Locating sources is the first step.the first step.

Now you must decide Now you must decide whether the author whether the author

can be trusted can be trusted (reliability) and if the (reliability) and if the source will actually source will actually help answer your help answer your

question (usefulness).question (usefulness).

Task 2 – It’s okay to Task 2 – It’s okay to be picky be picky

1.1. Using the sources from Using the sources from the previous task , click the previous task , click the button below and the button below and

complete the check list complete the check list for each source for each source

2.2. Now, compare your Now, compare your findings and rank the findings and rank the sources from 1 to 8. sources from 1 to 8.

1 = useful and reliable1 = useful and reliable8 = irrelevant and 8 = irrelevant and

untrustworthyuntrustworthy

1.1. Who is the author and what are his/her Who is the author and what are his/her qualifications? – R -qualifications? – R -

2.2. Is the source: selling a product (.com); a Is the source: selling a product (.com); a government publication (.gov); educational government publication (.gov); educational (.edu); or produced by another organisation (.edu); or produced by another organisation (.org)?(.org)? - R - - R -

3.3. Does the source have a bibliography/reference Does the source have a bibliography/reference list? – R -list? – R -

4.4. Does the source refer to other authors, Does the source refer to other authors, statistics, dates charts or images? – R -statistics, dates charts or images? – R -

5.5. Does the source have information that Does the source have information that answers my question or does it only answers my question or does it only contain general information? – U -contain general information? – U -

Reading for research is not like reading for Reading for research is not like reading for pleasure. pleasure.

To conduct your research efficiently you must To conduct your research efficiently you must always read with a purpose and ensure that always read with a purpose and ensure that

you record important information (note you record important information (note making) and the reference details of each making) and the reference details of each

source (bibliography)source (bibliography)

Once you have located a suitable resource you need to Once you have located a suitable resource you need to ensure that you understand what you are reading and ensure that you understand what you are reading and that you take notes.that you take notes.

1. 1. read the headings and sub-headingsread the headings and sub-headings2. 2. look at the images and diagramslook at the images and diagrams3. 3. read the first and last sentence of each paragraphread the first and last sentence of each paragraph4. 4. scan the text for unfamiliar words (use a scan the text for unfamiliar words (use a

dictionary)dictionary)5. 5. NOW, read the whole text and take notesNOW, read the whole text and take notes

- record the name of the source, key dates, - record the name of the source, key dates, ideas, statistics, names and events ideas, statistics, names and events AVIOD COPYING CHUNKS OF TEXT. IF YOU DO COPY A SEQUENCE OF WORDS OR AVIOD COPYING CHUNKS OF TEXT. IF YOU DO COPY A SEQUENCE OF WORDS OR

WHOLE SENTENCES, MAKE SURE YOU USE “QUOTATION MARKS”. WHOLE SENTENCES, MAKE SURE YOU USE “QUOTATION MARKS”.

While you are making notes, you must While you are making notes, you must also record an annotated bibliographyalso record an annotated bibliography

1.1. Bibliography =Bibliography = author, title/URL, publisher, date of author, title/URL, publisher, date of publication/accesspublication/access

2.2. Annotation = 2 to 4 sentences, after each Annotation = 2 to 4 sentences, after each bibliography entry, explaining what the bibliography entry, explaining what the source is and how it helped your researchsource is and how it helped your research

Try Task 3 - Notable PersonalitiesTry Task 3 - Notable Personalities

Select an individual from ancient history Select an individual from ancient history that interests you:that interests you:

1.1. Use an appropriate research strategy to find Use an appropriate research strategy to find at least 2 useful and reliable sources on the at least 2 useful and reliable sources on the individualindividual

2.2. Use the reading guidelines to understand and Use the reading guidelines to understand and make notes from each textmake notes from each text

3.3. Record an annotated bibliography including Record an annotated bibliography including each sourceeach source

At last!! You are now allowed to write up At last!! You are now allowed to write up your research findings!your research findings!

But wait!... You must select the appropriate But wait!... You must select the appropriate format (text type), make sure that your format (text type), make sure that your work meets the marking criteria, and work meets the marking criteria, and remember spelling and grammar.remember spelling and grammar.

Usually, your teacher will tell you what text Usually, your teacher will tell you what text type they are expecting. So, don’t be type they are expecting. So, don’t be

creative here, just do what they ask for.creative here, just do what they ask for.

Text types can be tricky because they Text types can be tricky because they involve rules and conventions that must involve rules and conventions that must

be learned.be learned.Click on the button below for a brief list.Click on the button below for a brief list.

……and the text types and the text types areare……

RecountRecount – written in the past tense; retells a series of events – written in the past tense; retells a series of events ReportReport – introduction, sub-headings, information, – introduction, sub-headings, information,

recommendations/conclusionrecommendations/conclusion NarrativeNarrative – setting, characters, conflict/dilemma, complication, – setting, characters, conflict/dilemma, complication,

climax, resolutionclimax, resolution EssayEssay – introduction, argument based on evidence, conclusion – introduction, argument based on evidence, conclusion Diary entryDiary entry – draws on empathy and emotion, an individual’s – draws on empathy and emotion, an individual’s

perspective perspective LetterLetter – date, greeting, recount/issue, complimentary close – date, greeting, recount/issue, complimentary close Feature articleFeature article – eye-catching heading, introduction, – eye-catching heading, introduction,

discussion/detail, conclusiondiscussion/detail, conclusion ProcedureProcedure – a sequence that must be followed to achieve a – a sequence that must be followed to achieve a

specific outcomespecific outcome WebpageWebpage – headings, sub-heading, hyperlinks, images – headings, sub-heading, hyperlinks, images Review/reflectionReview/reflection – critical evaluation written from – critical evaluation written from

the perspective of the reviewer the perspective of the reviewer Extended responseExtended response – paragraphs, brief description or evaluation – paragraphs, brief description or evaluation Short answerShort answer – a name, date or statistic – a name, date or statistic

Plagiarism is about Plagiarism is about protecting the rights of protecting the rights of those who have worked those who have worked

hard to produce hard to produce valuable, reliable workvaluable, reliable work

ReferencingReferencing and selecting and selecting your your own wordsown words are the only ways to are the only ways to ensure that you avoid serious ensure that you avoid serious academic and legal penaltiesacademic and legal penalties

ReferencingReferencing include an annotated include an annotated

bibliographybibliography

identify all copied work identify all copied work with “quotation marks”with “quotation marks”

use a referencing system use a referencing system such as footnotes or in such as footnotes or in

text text

referencing to indicate the referencing to indicate the use of another writer’s use of another writer’s

ideasideas

O.K. You have found O.K. You have found reliablereliable and and usefuluseful sources, made sources, made accurate notesaccurate notes, recorded an , recorded an annotated bibliographyannotated bibliography, , used the appropriate used the appropriate text typetext type and ensured that your and ensured that your

writing is writing is not plagiarisednot plagiarised..

NOW YOU MUST EDIT YOUR WORK FOR ERRORS IN NOW YOU MUST EDIT YOUR WORK FOR ERRORS IN SENTENCE STRUCTURE, SPELLING AND GRAMMER, and SENTENCE STRUCTURE, SPELLING AND GRAMMER, and

CHECK THAT YOUR WORK MEETS THE MARKING CHECK THAT YOUR WORK MEETS THE MARKING CRITERIA AND. CRITERIA AND.

(Tip: read your work backwards to check spelling)(Tip: read your work backwards to check spelling)

Remember: Remember: you will get the marks that your you will get the marks that your final submissionfinal submission deserves deserves..

Now for the finale…Now for the finale…Task 4 – Show-off you new skillsTask 4 – Show-off you new skills

Use all of the skills that you have gained Use all of the skills that you have gained to present your research on a feature, to present your research on a feature,

eventevent or individual from ancient history. or individual from ancient history.

You must include an annotated You must include an annotated bibliography and submit your notes bibliography and submit your notes

from at least 4 reliable sources.from at least 4 reliable sources. CLICK THE ARROW TO VIEW THE MARKING CRITERIACLICK THE ARROW TO VIEW THE MARKING CRITERIA

Marking Marking Criteria Criteria

Criteria Criteria Mark Mark Uses sophisticated language and appropriate Uses sophisticated language and appropriate

text type. Includes accurate spelling and text type. Includes accurate spelling and grammar. Submits comprehensive notes from grammar. Submits comprehensive notes from

reliable and useful sources. Includes an reliable and useful sources. Includes an annotated bibliography.annotated bibliography.

9-109-10

Uses an appropriate text type and submits Uses an appropriate text type and submits notes from reliable and useful sources. notes from reliable and useful sources.

Includes an annotated bibliography.Includes an annotated bibliography.

6-86-8

Attempts to use an appropriate text type. Attempts to use an appropriate text type. Submits some notes from relevant sources. Submits some notes from relevant sources.

Attempts a bibliography.Attempts a bibliography.

3-53-5

Attempts a response to the task.Attempts a response to the task. 1-21-2

now you just need to now you just need to remember and use your remember and use your

new skillsnew skills