Research / Research Center

Research Center

See the Search Smarter page for specific search tips and strategies.

The Importance of Referencing

Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prodding with a purpose. Zora Neale Hurston

Find solid information on your topic.

Then use your own words and ideas, sprinkled with effective quotes from authoritative people.

All new knowledge is built on previous knowledge. In academic writing such as assignments, theses, research and reports it is standard practice to give an overview of the current knowledge about a topic and to provide evidence to support the points that you make. These ideas will form the foundation for your own arguments and will be integrated into your own work by:

quoting - using the exact words of another

paraphrasing - using the ideas of another in your own words

summarizing - using the main points of another.

Add credibility to your work by citing strong sources.

The ability to relate one's own work to existing knowledge is a skill that needs to be mastered by every student. This is done by:

acknowledging all the sources of information in the text of your assignments and

providing a list of these sources at the end in the form of a works cited page or bibliography.

If this is not done correctly, it may give the impression that you are trying to pass off the work of another as your own and you may be accused of committing plagiarism, which is a serious offense.

Used with permission. Copyright by David Julian

How does your paper stack up?

Try this Plagiarism Checker

Grammarly

an automated proofreader and plagiarism checker.

Citations

This is a research platform that shows you skills and strategies to find quality sources, an online method to take notes, assistance citing your sources, and a place to keep your project.

Birdville ISD has a subscription to this reference tool.

You will create a Personal ID using your network login and password - the one you use to log in to the school computers.

MLA Style

Citation Makers

OSLIS MLA Citation Maker

Notetaking

CORNELL NOTES

Virtual Notetaking

	From the Evernote website: "Keep a lifetime of learning at your fingertips. Evernote is a great tool for students and teachers to capture notes, save research, collaborate on projects, snap photos of whiteboards, record audio and more. Everything you add to your account is automatically synced and made available on all the computers, phones and tablets you use.

	Take outline-style notes for free online. Requires e-mail address, but no registration. Apps for i-Devices, Kindle & Androids.

	Zotero [zoh-TAIR-oh] is a free, easy-to-use tool to help you collect, organize, cite, and share your research sources. It lives right where you do your work—in the web browser itself. Requires download. Video Overview

VIideos

Basic Cornell Notes

Mr. Hixson Does Cornell Notes

Templates

Cornell Note Paper Lined

Cornell Note Paper Blank

Electronic Cornell Note Page

Electronic Source and Note Cards

for Research Projects

Databases

WebPath Express is a search tool in the library catalog that provides access to 70,000 trustworthy, relevant websites that are constantly updated. These sites are educator-reviewed and verified for factual accuracy, currency, authority, educational value, coverage and objectivity. They are differentiated by grade level and citations are provided. Type a keyword or subject in the search box and hit enter. Select the Web Path Express database. Scroll down to see the selection of sites and the ones best for your purpose.
Use your network login to create a Personal ID for your projects.
Culture Grams birdville/learning	Country Reports birdvillems/countries
Easy Bib Research - a Social Research BETA See what sources others have cited about your topic.	Maps101 nridgems/maps Maps101.com is a web-based interactive database of teacher lesson plans, geography tools, online learning games, dynamic interactive map modules and over 4,000 viewable and printable history, thematic, reference, outline, current events and animated maps.
learn	ProQuest® Research Library Prep birdville/learning
SIRS Issues Researcher birdville/learning Maps101.com is a web-based interactive database of teacher lesson plans, geography tools, online learning games, dynamic interactive map modules and over 4,000 viewable and printable history, thematic, reference, outline, current events and animated maps. - See more at: http://demo.maps101.com/index.php?option=com_flexicontent&view=items&cid=3&id=3407&Itemid=14#sthash.0YTidJPe.dpuf Maps101.com is a web-based interactive database of teacher lesson plans, geography tools, online learning games, dynamic interactive map modules and over 4,000 viewable and printable history, thematic, reference, outline, current events and animated maps. - See more at: http://demo.maps101.com/index.php?option=com_flexicontent&view=items&cid=3&id=3407&Itemid=14#sthash.0YTidJPe.dpuf Maps101.com is a web-based interactive database of teacher lesson plans, geography tools, online learning games, dynamic interactive map modules and over 4,000 viewable and printable history, thematic, reference, outline, current events and animated maps. - See more at: http://demo.maps101.com/index.php?option=com_flexicontent&view=items&cid=3&id=3407&Itemid=14#sthash.0YTidJPe.dpuf	Teaching Books texas
World and I north ridge middle/wildcats	World Book bisdsec/student