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Big6 #2 - Information search strategies

This step of your research is where you think about all the possible sources of information.  Where are all the places you can find information and what are all the ways you can use to find out something?  

 Then, out of those ideas, you decide which sources are the best for you to use.

1. What are all the possible sources of information I can use?

Think about some of the information sources you think you might need, then visit this list to see if there are any you didn't think about.

For example, in the question about when I could see a bear, I would need a telephone book to call the zoo.  Or I could read a brochure about the zoo that lists the hours it is open.

2. What are the best sources for my problem or question?

Of all the sources that you thought of, or chose from the list, which ones will give you the kind of information that you need?

To find out about the hibernation of bears -- encyclopedias are good, and so are information books about bears.   You might find some magazine articles and look in the computer on Encarta about bears.   Finally, the Internet might have some good things about bears.

Now which of these are best for you?   Well, that depends on which ones will answer your questions.   You might have to look in all of them before you find your answers.   Sometimes, it may be that the only ones you will have available to look in will be books or encyclopedias.    If you are up to some college-level reading, here is a good site from Cornell Library about evaluating sources.    (Just be sure to click the back button to return to this page!)

If you have identified the sources you might look in, now is a good time to write in your journal.