Conducting your Research journey

Once you have a topic, you need to gather a lot of different sources to help you learn more. You'll need plenty of notes from high quality primary and secondary sources. Spend time with as many good sources as possible and you will have a much easier time telling a good story with your final project. Follow the steps below for a solid process to follow on your journey to better understand your topic. 

First thing you need is a reliable source
  1. Books are reliable sources. Go to a library and get one!
  2. Or you can locate an article using a database eBook from the Salk Media webpage or the webpage of your local library (all reliable)
  3. Or you can use one of the awesome websites linked on the Salk History Day "Lotsa Links" page.
  4. Or you could search the internet using SEARCH SKILLS (click image to the right or at the bottom) to help you find the best sources from the millions and billions of options. WARNING: When you search on your own you must first determine if he source is RELIABLE. 
  5. How do you know if it's reliable? Keep reading! 

makE sure you have a reliable website when you search on your own
When you use a search engine like Google to find your own sources YOU MUST analyze the site first to determine if it's reliable.
  • Who authored the site? Look for an “About” page.
  • Who published the site? This is often at the bottom of the page. Also check the domain name & suffix  (the suffix is the .edu  .com  .mil  .org  .gov)
  • What is the purpose of the website? Sales? Public service? Scholarly information? Promote a cause?
  • Does the author cite sources? Is there advertising? Does it link to other reliable sources? ​
  • Apply the CRAAP test if you aren't certain. --->
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Click image to zoom in for help w/domain name & suffix
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Click to see the CRAAP Test up close

thoroughly investigate the source and record good info in your notes
  1. Look at the index, table of contents, chapter titles.
  2. Look for connection to the theme & historical context. 
  3. Search for numerous keywords (topic & historical context)
  4. Make sure to actually READ the source!
  5. Start taking notes AFTER you have figured out what you are going to read. 
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When reading a website use control-F to quickly search for keywords and names.

get all the good stuff! quality sources make for quality notes
  1. Write down the who, what, when, where, why, how/
  2. Think about how it all fits together. What's the heart of your topic? What's the impact? Build-up? Background? How did part of the world change as a result?
  3. Take all the notes the source provides. Some sources only give a few notes, some give pages. 
  4. ​THINK and WONDER as you read and take notes. 

How to  SummarizE, ParaphraSE
& Quote
  1. Quotes come from sources, NOT googling your topic and the word quote.
  2. ​When you write down a quote be sure to keep track of who said it, where they were, when they said it and other details to support. 
Thanks to Chattanooga State - Joshua Vossler on Vimeo

look for clues THAT LEAD YOU TO more sources
  1. Sources lead to more sources.
  2. Sometimes a source has a bibliography to their sources. Look at it!
  3. Secondary sources often refer to Primary Sources. Look for them!

don't forget to cite your source in your annotated bibliography! click to learn about citing/annotating

More search tips

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Click image to zoom in!

History day research tips Prezi