Plan: Special Research Topics

GOVERNMENT

Many government agencies and organizations have created websites for specific content areas and age groups.

 Kids.gov   http://www.kids.gov/

First Gov includes Find links to government and other kids' sites -- grouped by age and subject. Explore, learn, and have fun!

Ben's Guide to the US Gov't.             http://bensguide.gpo.gov/

Fun site to explore U. S. History and Government  topics.

LITERARY CRITICISM

Literary criticism makes an in-depth study of a written work or of an author's writings.

Literary criticism is an analysis and judgment of a piece of literature. It may include questioning the author's reasons or motives, and how the work affects the reader. It may be a comparison of two or more pieces of literature.

Sample Literary Criticism Book Sets:

• Contemporary literary criticism. Detroit, Gale Research Co.  REF 801.9

• Twentieth-century literary criticism. Gale Research Company. Detroit, Mich., Gale Research Co. REF 809.94

     http://www.ipl.org/div/litcrit

PRIMARY & SECONDARY SOURCES

What's the difference?

• Primary sources allow you to read the documents that were written in the time an event happened.
• A secondary source presents material about an event that is interpreted by someone after the time in which the event occurred.

Primary source materials are contemporary accounts of an event and original documents about that event.

Examples: letters, diaries, audio recordings of speeches, newspaper articles, government documents, news footage, eyewitness accounts, and so on.

Examples of primary resources

        * a person close to the event or topic you're investigating. A person who lived during the Great Depression would be a primary source for a report on the Depression. You would gather information through an interview process.
        * a real journal, a letter, or a document from the time period you are investigating
        * photographs, audio or video recordings taken at the actual event

Secondary source material is written or reported at some point after an event occurred by someone other than the originator.

Examples: books, articles, editorials, reviews, scientific studies

Examples of secondary resources

        * books
        * magazines
        * newspaper articles
        * videos

For instance, a book, magazine, newspaper, or video about the Depression is a secondary source.

Be sure to use your EBSCO    access to their Primary Source documents from the Student Resources link in the box on the right.  Once there simply do your search with only the Primary Source Documents box checked!

  http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/index.html

  http://www.ohs.org/

OREGON BLUE BOOK

The Oregon Blue Book, either on the shelf or online, is the place to go for the most up-to-date information about our state and its government.

This is a bi-annual (every other year) publication about the state of Oregon. It has lists of notable people, cultural events, and education. It is the official state directory about our government. Here you can find our state song, state symbols, history of Oregon, and our state Constitution.

How is the Oregon Blue Book organized?

The Oregon Blue Book has a table of contents that lists the major topics. The index in the back lists more specific topics and the page numbers where the information is located.

There is also a thumb index. Each topic listed in the table of contents is in sections that are defined by the dark print on the edge of the pages.

Where do I find an Oregon Blue Book?

You will find Oregon Blue Book in the reference section at REF 317.95 Ore, or in the nonfiction section at 317.95 Ore. It might also be located in a specialized section in your library that has books about Oregon.

When do I use an Oregon Blue Book?

Use this when you need information about Oregon, particularly general facts, branches of the government, and current government statistics.

How do I use a Blue Book?

If you know the general topic you need information about, use the table of contents. If that doesn't help you, go to the index.

Oregon Bluebook Online                http://bluebook.state.or.us/

 
 

Oregon Bluebook for Kids     http://bluebook.state.or.us/kids/index.htm

• The Oregon Blue Book is the state's official directory and fact book. It contains listings and functional descriptions of government agencies and educational institutions. It also features an almanac, maps, facts about Oregon history and elections, as well as information on the arts, media, and other cultural institutions in Oregon.
  
• Now it also includes an Exhibit of the development of the Oregon Constitution, particularly events surrounding the 1857 constitutional convention. In the process, it examines life, politics, and important issues in the years before and after the convention. It also looks at how the constitution has evolved during the 150 years since the convention.

 

 The Oregon Blue Book Online is more complete than the print version and updated frequently.

STATISTICAL RESOURCES

LibrarySpot.com              http://www.libraryspot.com/statistics/

• Includes lists of General Sites, Topics, and Government Department Statistics

United States Census Data           http://www.census.gov/

• The Census Bureau serves as the leading source of quality data about the United States' people and economy.

Statistical Resources on the Web           http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/stats.html

• A comprehensive list of statistics from agriculture to foreign economics to weather.