Policy Proposal Project
Civics & Government |
Research
Library Databases |
These library databases are great places to start your research.
Sign in using your school Google account!
Your username (before the @) and password will let you access databases and resources outside of school.
Sign in using your school Google account!
Your username (before the @) and password will let you access databases and resources outside of school.
|
Collects breaking news, feature stories, photographs, graphics, and audio clips from the Associated Press, one of the oldest and largest news organizations in the world with journalists in more than 250 locations worldwide.
|
|
Explores a single "hot" issue from the news in-depth each week. Topics include social and teen issues, the environment, health, education, science, and technology. Every report is written by an experienced journalist and features comments from experts. Also includes charts, graphs, sidebar articles, a pro-con feature, a chronology, lengthy bibliographies, and a list of contacts. (Full access to all articles published after 2012.)
|
|
Reliable information offering overviews, news, multimedia content, and opinions on contemporary political and social issues.
|
|
Current news, investigations, opinions, photos, and videos by the journalists of The New York Times from more than 150 countries around the world. Access the archive, including primary sources, via the TimesMachine. Sign up for a digital subscription using your school Google login. Watch this video tutorial to help you get started.
|
|
Provides background and analysis on an extensive range of issues and topics. Editorially-created overview pages provide background for understanding issues. Further analysis and opinions cover the pros, cons, and everything in between.
|
Additional Resources
|
These online resources are great places to find original information and primary documents.
|
Collection of information on the U.S. Presidency, including documents, media, related historical artifacts, and statistics. A project of UC Santa Barbara.
|
|
Provides neutral and factual information about U.S. government officials, candidates, issues, and elections. Look up political figures' views on key issues and policies, campaign funding sources, voter registration rules, sample ballots for upcoming elections, and more. Whether you're researching for class or want to be an informed voter, Ballotpedia helps you understand American politics at the national, state, and local levels.
|
|
Find official online database of legislative information and other activities of the U.S. Congress. Find bills, resolutions, treaties, and the Congressional Record, including a daily digest and a deep video archive.
|
|
This resource is devoted to making the U.S. Supreme Court accessible to everyone. Find searchable audio of court proceedings, easy to understand case summaries and decision information, and full-text Supreme Court opinions. Oyez also provides detailed information on every Justice throughout the Court’s history and offers a panoramic tour of the Supreme Court building.
|
|
This nonpartisan organization conducts public opinion polling and demographic research, analyzing topics including politics, media habits, religion, race and ethnicity, social trends, and more.
|
|
Presents pro and con arguments of debatable issues with direct sources and citations, as well as further reference information relevant to those issues. Thoroughly researched and compiled by research staff and editors from the Encyclopedia Britannica group.
|
|
The U.S. Government's official source for spending data. Find information on what the federal government spends every year and how it spends the money. You can follow the money from the Congressional appropriations to the federal agencies and down to local communities and businesses.
|
|
The U.S. Census Bureau provides facts and figures about America’s population, places, and economy. Find detailed data on topics like education levels, income, technology access, religion, race and ethnicity, businesses, and more across the United States. You can find information for specific states, cities, zip codes, congressional districts, and other locations. The Census Bureau's data search tool enables you to enter your desired parameters and then create maps, charts and graphs.
|
Research Skills
Find guides and tips for upping your research game, from creating targeted search terms to choosing the best information sources.
Email or chat with Ms. Cochran or Mr. Mather with any questions and for further help.
Email or chat with Ms. Cochran or Mr. Mather with any questions and for further help.
The research process
Grow Your Research Garden
Prepare the Soil
Background investigation and thoughtful questions lay a healthy groundwork for your research.
|
Plant the Seeds
The librarians and databases can help you locate quality sources that will sprout into your research project.
|
Harvest your Crop
Use NoodleTools and Google Drive to organize, compile, and annotate the sources and information you have gathered.
|
SEARCH STRATEGIES
|
Search Terms & Fields
The words you search for, how you phrase them, and where in the resource you are looking for those words, are key to finding the best resources.
The words you search for, how you phrase them, and where in the resource you are looking for those words, are key to finding the best resources.
|
Terms
The actual words you are looking for. PROTIP:
Use quotation marks to search for specific words together in a specific order "Declaration of Independence"
"Civil Rights"
"Chicago Fire" |
|
Boolean Operators
Refine and fine-tune your search by combining search terms & fields. Some operators narrow your search, and others broaden your search results.
Refine and fine-tune your search by combining search terms & fields. Some operators narrow your search, and others broaden your search results.
|
AND
Results with search terms combined.
Lincoln AND "civil rights"
poverty AND crime |
OR
Results with any of the search terms.
"right to vote" OR suffrage
wage OR income (Great for synonyms and ideas with many different names.) |
NOT
Results with search terms excluded.
"Chicago Fire" NOT soccer
dementia NOT Alzheimer's (Great for targeting a term that has many different meanings.) |
filter search results
After you perform a search, you can sort and fine-tune the results using filters or limiters. Different databases may use different terms, but most will let you filter by the categories listed here.
|
Subject
What topics the resource covers Hone in on all of the resources related to a topic. Databases often have specific, controlled vocabulary for topics. "Canines" instead of "dogs"; "hypertension" instead of "high blood pressure." Search multiple subject terms at once using Boolean Operators to get even more specific. You can find a database's specific subject terms linked in a resource's information page, or in a database's Thesaurus Terms. Use those terms to search in the Subject field on future searches. Peer Reviewed — Limits to items from scholarly journals that have gone through a review process by experts in the field. Publication Date
When the resource was created Limit the results to recent years for the most up-to-date information and research. Older results can help find primary sources or show how people in certain time periods understood your topic. |
Source/Content Type
Where the resource was originally published Reference Books of facts with specific entries to cover particular information, like encyclopedias, atlases, dictionaries, etc. (Ex. Dictionary of American History, Encyclopedia of Crime and Justice) Newspaper/Magazine/Periodical Often shorter articles, for the public and a general audience. Great for overviews, recent news, and opinions about a topic. (Ex. Rolling Stone, Chicago Tribune) Academic/Scholarly/Trade Journal More technical articles for a more specialized audience. Often longer articles that include actual studies and research conducted on a particular topic. (Ex. Journal of Education, American Historical Review) Full Text
If the entire resource can be viewed and accessed on the database Some databases just include information and a citation for the resource, but not the actual resource itself. Limiting by "Full Text" excludes those from your search results. If you see a citation for a resource that you would like to find, talk to the librarians. We can often get that resource for you in just a few days! |
Database PRO-tips
Library databases and other research sources have these tools you can find and use to research more effectively and efficiently.
|
Search multiple databases. Each database has a different collection of resources. Performing the same search will get you even more resources to choose from. Use the citations and bibliographies of the most useful resources. Search for those authors, or even those exact resources. Find the information those writers used.
|
Abstracts are short summaries of there resource. Read the abstract and subject terms to decide if you want to save the resource and explore it further. This will save you a lot of time! |
evaluating resources
Currency
Timeliness of the information
|
Authority
How reliable the source of the information is
|
Accuracy
How reliable and correct the resource is
|
Relevance
Importance of the information for your needs
|
Purpose
The reason the resource exists
|
CITATION TOOLS
|
NoodleTools provides integrated tools for citations, document archiving, annotation, and collaborative research and writing. Most library databases will create properly formatted citations and export it right to your NoodleTools project folder.
|
|
Google Docs has a built-in Citation Tool to help you format citations, create a bibliography/works cited page, add footnotes, and more. Watch a tutorial here.
|
|
The Online Writing Lab (O.W.L) at Purdue University is an extensive resource for creating works cited and annotated bibliographies, as well as help with research, writing, and formatting styles.
|
primary sources
Types of Sources
All materials, data, and information used in research are known as sources. Information sources are classified into three categories: Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Sources.
Primary Sources are original materials that provide first-hand information or data. They serve as the raw materials used as the building blocks of research by historians, scientists, and other scholars. Determining if a source is primary depends on context, which will be discussed further, but include examples listed here.
|
Secondary Sources describe, digest, interpret, evaluate, and analyze information, usually by using multiple primary sources.
|
Tertiary Sources compile, list, index, and summarize information from secondary and primary sources. These sources are great for starting your research journey when getting background information, but are not sources you want to cite in your own research projects.
|
Identifying Primary Sources
Determining if something is a primary source is often dependent on the context in which the source was created and published, and how you are using and interpreting the source. Consider these factors when making a decision.
|
Timing
Was the source produced at the time of the event/period being studied? Shortly after? Or much later? Sources created closer to the event are more likely to be primary. Primary Source: A photograph of settlers preparing for their journey on the Oregon Trail in 1847 Secondary Source: A 2018 documentary film about the Oregon Trail using photographs, diaries, and other source material |
Authorship
Was the source created by someone directly involved or witnessing the event? First-hand accounts and records usually indicate a primary source. Primary Source: A memoir written by a woman who grew up during the Great Depression Secondary Source: A biography by a historian published in 2004 about Frances Perkins, the U.S. Secretary of Labor during the Great Depression |
|
Purpose
Is the source's original purpose to convey direct information, or to analyze or interpret the information? Raw documentation and data tends to be primary sources Primary Source: Statistical data on 1980s voter turnout collected by the U.S. Census Bureau Secondary Source: An article in an academic journal analyzing voter trends over time that uses census data |
Context of Use
The context in which a researcher uses and analyzes a source can also determine if it is primary or secondary. If the source directly provides the key information or evidence being examined, it is likely a primary source. Source: Review of the movie Jurassic Park by movie critic Roger Ebert. Primary Source: For a biography about Ebert, or a study of film criticism through history. Secondary Source: for research on the evolution of special effects in movies, or a biography of the director. |
Finding Primary Sources
There are multiple ways to gather Primary Sources. Think about the type of primary source you are looking for to help you decide the best place to find it.
There are multiple ways to gather Primary Sources. Think about the type of primary source you are looking for to help you decide the best place to find it.
|
Databases & Websites
Several databases and websites are dedicated to providing original documents, raw research data, and other primary sources. You can find a large collection of them on our Primary Sources database page. |
Archives
Archives are collections of historical artifacts like documents, records, manuscripts, or photographs surrounding a specific place, institution, individual, or group of people. They are usually hosted by museums, historical societies, libraries, businesses, universities, and other institutions. Many archives require appointments and other requirements to view their materials, but there are often partial or complete digital archives as well. |
|
Oral Histories
Oral histories are collections of interviews - either audio recording or transcribed - with people who have first-hand experience with a historical event or topic. Oral histories are often collected in books or as digital archives. |
Create Them Yourself
Conduct interviews or surveys, collect your own raw data, or take your own photos! If they help to answer your research question, they are primary sources. |
news & mEDIA LITERACY
|
How do you know if news and other online information is credible? Use the four moves of the S.I.F.T. method to help you analyze news, videos, and other information that you encounter online and on social media. 
The SIFT method is a strategy developed by digital literacy expert, Mike Caulfield. All SIFT information on this page is adapted from his materials with a CC BY 4.0 license.
When in doubt, contact an expert - like a librarian!
|
Public Libraries
Find more resources like larger book collections, digital eBook and eAudiobook collections, search their additional online databases, and even request more books or journal articles from more libraries.
Your Maine East librarians can help access resources, get a library card, and more.
Your Maine East librarians can help access resources, get a library card, and more.
Des Plaines public library
|
Library card: Complete this online application form for a new or replacement library card. A temporary number will be emailed to you, and a physical card will come in the mail. You must bring the card to the library to fully activate it for checking out physical items. If you are under 18, a parent or legal guardian must be with you.
Resources: The Commons
Resources: The Commons
glenview public library
|
Library card: Complete this online application form for a new library card. A temporary number will be emailed to you. You must bring a current Photo ID to the library to get your physical card. If you are under 16, a parent or legal guardian must be present when you get the physical card.
Resources: Innovation Center makerspace; Teen services
Resources: Innovation Center makerspace; Teen services
morton grove public library
|
Library card: Complete this online application form for a new or replacement library card. A temporary number will be emailed to you. You must bring a current Photo ID to the library to get your physical card within 30 days. After that time, your temporary card will expire. If you are under 18, a parent or legal guardian must be present when you get the physical card.
Resources: Services for teens
Resources: Services for teens
niles-maine library district
|
Library card: Complete this online application form for a new or replacement library card. A temporary number will be emailed to you, and a physical will come in the mail. If you are under 18, a parent or legal guardian must sign the online form.
Resources: Creative Studio & Makerspace; Teen Underground
Resources: Creative Studio & Makerspace; Teen Underground
park ridge public library
|
Library card: Complete this online application form for a new library card. A temporary number will be emailed to you. You must bring a current Photo ID to the library to get your physical card within 14 days. After that time, your temporary card will expire. If you are under 16, a parent or legal guardian must be present when you get the physical card.
Resources: The Studio makerspace; Media Lab; Teen Loft
Resources: The Studio makerspace; Media Lab; Teen Loft
Save Resources & Citations |
|
NoodleTools provides integrated tools for citations, document archiving, annotation, and collaborative research and writing. Most library databases will create properly formatted citations and export it right to your NoodleTools project folder.
|
|
Google Docs has a built-in Citation Tool to help you format citations, create a bibliography/works cited page, add footnotes, and more. Watch a tutorial here.
|
|
The Online Writing Lab (O.W.L) at Purdue University is an extensive resource for creating works cited and annotated bibliographies, as well as help with research, writing, and formatting styles.
|