Archived 2024-2025 Page

​Quick Links:

And if you ever get stuck or overwhelmed with searching, don't hesitate to ask/email Ms. Barker or Ms. Pill for help! 

Citations:

*While each database gives you the ability to cite your resource, you may need to create your own.*
You are using APA (American Psychological Association)

NoodleTools
What is a scholarly article?
Scroll down on this page to find databases with scholarly articles, like Academic Onefile

Project Options

Choose a single compound discussed in the book with a minimum of 3 sources

Choose a question you want to answer about that specific compound, and write a research paper answering your question.

Finding YOUR SOURCES?

ORR Databases:

*Each database has different resources that can help you in your quest.
​Make sure to search your individual in each database to find new information and materials.* 

Narrowed Databases:

If you are searching for an article based on agriculture, our environmental science database will give a narrowed search rather than the searches below.

Broad Databases:

Academic OneFile

* Focus is on scholarly journals

Questioning YOUR SOURCES?

The SIFT Method, created by Mike Caulfield, is a way to determine if resources are credible.
  1. STOP: Pause and ask yourself if you recognize the information source and if you know anything about the website or the claim's reputation.
  2. INVESTIGATE the source: Take a minute to identify where this information comes from and to consider the creator's expertise and agenda. Is this source worth your time? Look at what others have said about the source to help with you these questions. 
  3. FIND trusted coverage: Sometimes it's less important to know about the source and more important to assess their claim. Look for credible sources; compare information across sources and determine whether there appears to be a consensus. Focus on lateral reading!
  4. TRACE claims, quotes, and media back to the original context: Sometimes online information has been removed from its original context (for example, a news story is reported on in another online publication or an image is shared on Twitter). If needed trace the information back to the original source in order to recontextualize it.
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1. Develop the research question
2. Choose the right database: There are multiple databases to choose from, start with a general database and then search by subject
3. Define the terms and concepts: Break down your research question into distinct concepts that can be searched for separately (3 concept words are a great start)
​4. Combining terms:
  • Combining the terms using the word AND will retrieve articles that mention both terms
  • Using OR will retrieve articles that mention either subject - This will broaden the search and retrieve more records.
  • Using the term NOT to combine terms will retrieve articles containing the first term but not the second (this term is seldom used).
5. Truncation and Wildcards: Allows you to search variant forms of a word as a single search concept. Common truncation symbols included the *,#,$, and ?.
  • Example: microb* could search for microbes, microbiology, microbial, microbacteria, microbiologist, and microbiologists etc. etc. etc.

Chromebook Users
Boston Public Library Databases:

A BPL eCard gives you access to:

Just a few databases to get you started:

For all 9th graders:
  • Click on the Step 1 button under the website you want to visit
  • Enter in your BPL ecard number and pin when asked on the login.ezproxy.bpl.org website
  • Close that tab where you entered your BPL ecard number - if you try to enter it will show the website is blocked
  • Click on the Step 2 button under the website you want to visit - make sure this is on a new tab - if not it might not work
  • The site should now load in a new tab.
*You will need to login with your BPL e-card number and pin. 

As a Massachusetts Resident*, you have access to the Boston Public Library and can get an online eCard!