Research+Paper+Pathfinder

=Research Paper Pathfinder=

Introduction:
//While we will meet in class every day, there are still many times when you will be researching outside of class. The following resources are designed to aid you in writing your research paper.//

//How do I make my research as meaningful as possible with the amazing number of resources at my disposal?//
 * Essential Question:**

//If you have questions, here is the place to start. We will use many of these in class, but they are excellent resources at any point in the research paper process//.
 * Guides to Research and Information Evaluation**

media type="file" key="Evaluating_Sources.asf"- United Streaming Video on Evaluating Sources
 * [|Internet Public Library for Teens]- part of the excellent Internet Public Library. Follow this guide for an A+ (if Cecil County actually allowed me to give you an A+, that is).
 * [|TILT- Texas Information Literacy Tutorial]- explains different sources, and how to evaluate them for particular uses. Only complete Module 1.
 * [|Cambridge Rindge and Latin School Research Guide]- better than most textbooks. This is a complete guide for the research paper. Of special signifance are their [|tip sheets].
 * [|Springfield Township Research Guide]- while some of the links are broken, this really is an online textbook, and can be used to go through the entire research paper writing process.
 * [|Online Writing Lab- Purdue]- a simpler, more straightforward, look at the process.

//The most difficult part of any paper is simply getting started, and a good topic is an essential for a good start.// A//lso, do not forget to use your interest inventories and the resources in the guide section above for more topic ideas//.
 * Topic Selection**


 * [|SIRS Pro and Con]- provides a list of the ten most controversial research topics.
 * **[|International Debate Education Association Debatabase]** - a searchable database of pros and cons for various topics, with some research included. The entire list is [|here .>]
 * [|Old Dominion University Idea Generator] - not a list of researched ideas, like the two above, but it is a good place to get started with your main idea, rather than a focused topic.
 * I also suggest you browse the shelves of the library collection. Scan the newspaper. Watch the news. A current topic is a better topic.

Research Tools
//The meat of the research process is here. We will be adding tools to this section as the semester progresses.//


 * [|Digital Databases] - links to all the databases available to Cecil County students.
 * Alexandria Researcher- search the collection at North East High School from the desktop of any computer in the media center.
 * [|World Cat] - search nearly any library in the world for resources! Do not forget to enter the zip code to find the nearest library with your resource.
 * [|Google WebSearch Help Center]- if you are going to use Google, at least use the advanced search feature detailed here.

Citation Tools
//I would prefer you simply memorize the [|MLA Handbook], but these will do in the meantime.//
 * [|Citation Machine] - a more scholarly (and slightly more complicated) means of creating works cited entries than some others. It does individual entries really well, but lacks a registration-free means of completing a Works Cited page.
 * [|EasyBib]- on the other hand, does allow the ability to save individual entries and construct an entire Works Cited page, if you keep a code provided by EasyBib.
 * [|Noodle Tools]- if you are unsure of what type of source you have, the free noodle tools citation form is more structured than the others. **Also, you will find a free searchable knowledge base for MLA and APA paper format questions.**