Gathering Background Knowledge
Before diving into your research, it's important to learn a little bit about your chosen topic. This is a great time to consult overview or reference sources such as encyclopedias. Some researchers prefer to start by doing a few searches using a search engine (like Google or Bing).
Look in an encyclopedia or two.
Britannica School Edition: An online encyclopedia for students. It is geared toward school-related research topics and includes 3 levels: elementary, middle, and high school.
Britannica Academic Edition: An online encyclopedia that is good for more advanced research topics. Provides articles written by Nobel laureates, historians, curators, professors, and other distinguished contributors.
Gale Virual Reference Library: Collection of 25 online reference books and encyclopedias covering topics from Art to History to Medicine.
Print Encyclopedias in the Library: Yes, there are also many great print encyclopedias available to you. We have encyclopedias about countries, cultures, law, historical events, famous people, and much more. Stop by the library to take a look or search the online catalog from anywhere.
Wikipedia (sometimes): A free online encyclopedia. This can be a good place to learn a little about your chosen topic. Use the articles to learn relevant vocabulary, names, and dates. Check out the references at the bottom of the page that can lead you to more information. BUT, remember that anyone can write a Wikipedia article, so you have to think critically about what you read. It can be a good place to start, but should not be the only place you go for your information. Ask your teacher if you're not sure how he or she feels about using Wikipedia, or talk to Mrs. Range if you want to learn more about it.
Simple Wiki (sometimes): A simplified version of Wikipedia. There are not as many articles as the full Wikipedia, but it is growing. Articles here are short and easy to understand. Check out the references at the bottom of the page that can lead you to more information. BUT, remember that anyone can write a Wikipedia article, so you have to think about what you read. It can be a good place to start, but should not be the only place you look. Ask your teacher if you're not sure how he or she feels about using Wikipedia, or talk to Mrs. Range if you want to learn more about it.
Try a search engine.
ipl2: The Internet Public Library is a great search engine for finding quality information about most topics. Use the subject divisions to narrow your searching, or search the entire collection to see what's out there.
refseek: A search engine for students and researchers that can help you find information about almost any topic. Refseek searches more than one billion web pages, books, encyclopedias, journals, and newspapers. It's creators say that they designed it to help cut down on students' information overload.
iSEEK Education: A search engine for students and teachers. The environment is reviewed by iSEEK educators, so you shouldn't get any sketchy stuff.
Google: A general search engine that can help you find information about any topic. Many people use this as their starting point, and it can help you get a sense of what's out there. But be sure to put the Advanced Search to good use. You will save yourself time in the long run if you spend a bit more time creating a search that specifies exactly what you are seeking. If you're feeling extra ambitious, try out some search operators or punctuation. You can also limit an existing Google search by using the "Search Tools" button between the search bar and the search results. The ability to limit by Reading Level is particularly cool.