Searching - Don't Take Notes Yet

First you need to find the best sources of information to take notes from. In this stage, you'll create a list of possible sources with a rating identifying which sources are the best.

How to Use Ebsco

  1. Login to the Ebsco database. You'll need a password sheet from the library.
  2. Choose EBSCOhost Web - Academic Research & Reference Center or Student Research Center or Student Research Centre - French Interface.

Ebsco Host Web - Academic Research & Reference Center

This option is the most advanced, flexible and customizable option and should be used for all senior university level courses.

  1. Read through and choose the most appropriate databases, first.
  2. Click the full text box (bottom section) to remove titles and summaries of articles which you cannot read.
  3. Enter 1 keyword per search box and change it to search subject terms. This will get rid of articles that simply used the word once in unrelated text.
  4. Click the search button.
  5. Obtain the most relevant articles by choosing one of the Narrow Results by Subject options (in yellow on the left).
  6. Repeat step 5 until there is a manageable number of articles to read through.
  7. Skim through the articles to determine how useful they are.
  8. For each article which you might use,
    1. Record the title of along with a rating of it's usefulness, noting any issues such as bias or publishing dates.
    2. Click the Add to folder button to save it for next time.
  9. Sign in to My EBSCOhost in order to save your folder of articles. If you don't do this, you will not be able to access the articles you've chosen and will have to repeat the search next time. (If this is your first time, you'll need to create a login and password. Choose something that you will remember or write it on your library password sheet.)

Student Research Center - English or French

This option is more user friendly, but less flexible. Junior students might want to try this option first.

  1. Choose the type of source - magazines, newspapers, books, videos, etc.
  2. Click the full text box to remove summaries of articles which are unavailable.
  3. Choose dates if you want recent articles.
  4. Choose your reading level if you want to eliminate harder articles.
  5. Type your topic in the Find box at the top, then click search.
  6. Find the best articles by choosing to Narrow the Results by Subject (on the left beside the articles).
  7. Repeat step 6 as many times as necessary until you have a small number of articles (5 to 20).
  8. Skim through the articles to determine how useful they are.
  9. For each article which you might use,
    1. Record the title of along with a rating of it's usefulness, noting any issues such as bias or publishing dates.
    2. Click the Add to folder button to save it for next time.
  10. Sign in to My EBSCOhost in order to save your folder of articles. If you don't do this, you will not be able to access the articles you've chosen and will have to repeat the search next time. (If this is your first time, you'll need to create a login and password. Choose something that you will remember or write it on your library password sheet.)

 

Last updated: April 4, 2008