Find It

Learning Objectives

1. Learn about types of sources.
2. Use finding aids to identify different types of sources.
3. Turn a topical sentence (thesis statement) into a search statement or statements.
4. Differentiate between keyword and subject searching in databases.
5. Practice refining searches by changing terms, using limits and examining search construction.

Pre-Class Readings

Ask students to read the following tutorials before class. Each tutorial includes practice activities and self-test questions, and requires about 30 minutes to complete. A graded multiple-choice quiz in Carmen is also available for instructors to use on request.

• Title: Smart Research Strategies
• Link: http://liblearn.osu.edu/tutor/les6/
• Duration: 30 minutes
• Overview: Describes TTF (tools, timeframes, finding aids) research strategy and identifies a variety of free and library subscription sources by category (background, in-depth information, facts/data, news and opinion, multimedia sources). Brief guide, with links to sources, also available.

• Title: Searching 101
• Link: http://liblearn.osu.edu/tutor/les4/
• Duration: 30 minutes
• Overview: Describes turning a research need into a search statement, the difference between keyword and subject searching, Boolean and mathematical operators, limiting and refining searches.

In-Class Resources

Instructor PowerPoint

• Title: Just Google It? Effective Research Requires a Strategy
• Link: http://liblearn.osu.edu/courses/english110/find.ppt
• Duration: 40 minutes
• Overview: Provides an overview of the research process. Student researchers often miss useful or key information sources by relying heavily on search engines. Google is a useful tool, but results can be confusing, hard to differentiate and assess. Brief Captivate movie, Understanding Google Search Results, illustrates this point. Using a variety of research tools leads to better results. Using the right tool for the task will help students reach goals more quickly. Creating search statements and learning to revise searches effectively are also discussed.
• Instructor script: http://liblearn.osu.edu/courses/english110/find_script.doc

Related Student Activities

Choose one or more activities that fit best with your syllabus and available class time.

• Focus: Using Finding Aids
• Link: http://liblearn.osu.edu/courses/english110/find_it_1.doc
• Duration: 20 minutes
• Overview: Student completes a search on their research topic in Google and examines first 5 results (criteria suggested), reflects on differences, identifies more focused tools from tutorial to provide similar or better results.

• Focus: Better Searching: The Art of Refining
• Link: http://liblearn.osu.edu/courses/english110/find_it_2.doc
• Duration: 35-45 minutes for individual work. Add 15 minutes if you would like to add a class discussion of findings.
• Overview: Students will search, adjust searches, and refine their searches in 3 different research tools.
• Supplement: This sample screen shot document should be made available to students who wish to see examples of how these activities appear online.

Additional Student Resources

Movies:

• Understanding Google Search Results
• Understanding Google Search Results (narrated version)
• Better Searching
• Better Searching (narrated version)

Handouts:

• Finding Primary Sources (Word document)
• Quick Guide to Effective Searching (PDF)
• Finding Databases (Word Document)