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AP Music Research Project

  
  STEP 1.  General Requirements  
  What information do I need?  (Suggestions from the Librarian)  
 
  • Select a topic--Not sure what to write about? Sometimes the most difficult part of writing a paper is deciding on a topic. Make sure you choose a topic that interests you.
 
  • Once you decide on a topic you will need to locate background information such as terms, important ideas, relevant names of people or places, and dates of specific events. Encyclopedias can be great starting points for finding this information. (Remember they can NOT be one of the sources placed on a Works Cited page)
  • If you selected a broad topic, you will probably need to narrow your focus after you've gathered your initial information.
  STEPS 2/3.  Information Seeking Strategies  
 

What are the possible sources of information?  Where will I find these? (Suggestions from the Librarian)

  
If you are looking for Search More Information
Books

(Suggestions:  780's in both Reference & nonfiction area / remember the Biographies)

 

Maverick Library Catalog

Pasadena Public Library

Library Catalog
Authoritative Resources Database Links

Use the link above to find important resources such as GALE, eLibrary, ProQuest, SIRS, & others.

 

  Electronic Subscription Resources (Databases)

Ask for password sheet for home use!
Web Pages Search Engines

 Search Engines:  Remember to ask...is this a reliable, credible, authoritative site?
Basic Facts

Britannica Encyclopedia

Grolier

Basic Reference Sources (Online or Print Encyclopedias are NOT normally used as one of your cited reference resources)

Magazines, Journals  or News Articles

Gale Databases

ProQuest Databases

 

Electronic Subscription Resources (Databases)

Ask for password sheet for home use!
  Additional Resources to get you started  
   
   
   
   
   

Citation Resources (How to cite your sources)

Library Citation Page Help

 

 PMHS Subscription to Noodle Tools  Evaluation Checklist for "Free Web" Sources
 

E-mail in the Library

Ask one of the library staff

  
 
 
     
  STEP 4.  Use of Information  
 

How will I evaluate the information I find?

  
(Suggestions from the Librarian)
 
  • Help to Determine Credibility of a Web Page

  • Finding the sites may be easy, but do you trust the information enough to quote it in your paper? (source: UT Library Web Page)

  • Remember to ask yourself:  "Is this an AUTHORITATIVE source?"
  
  STEP 5.  Synthesis (Putting the Paper Together)  
 

 Paper Information & Reporting Sources

  
 
  • Notes should be in your own words.  Remember:  cutting and pasting text straight from Internet resources into a Word.doc is plagiarism! 
 
 
  • Online help for MLA format:  

         http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_mla.html

 
 
  • Copy the full source citation for all information.  This information will be on the Works Cited page.  Page numbers are needed for any parenthetical citations. 
 
   
 
 
  STEP 6.  Evaluation   (GRADES)  
Important Dates:

This page updated:  December 07, 2005
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