Wednesday, February 03, 2016

Biography Project Handouts & Resources

 Biography Project Handouts:

A Google Drive folder of handouts and information sheets for the biography project is at:
Biography Project Handouts

You read these documents online, print them out, or make copies that you save within your own Google Drive folders.  
 

Biography Project Resources:

The goal is get started on researching topics related to the biography you are reading.  Don't worry about what the research will be used for.*  Follow your interests.  Find some sources.  Save the source information so you can easily go back later.

1. Identify topics for research using your own brain, instaGrok (optional), and this handout

2. Set up a place to save and organize all your bookmarks.  This could be a folder with Safari or Firefox Bookmarks.  Or you may choose to install the Chome Extension, Diigo.

3. Start identifying sites that are potential resources.  Don't just rely on Google.   See the Biography section of  Wirthportal (also on the right sidebar link of this site) and check out Marvel, Internet Public Library, Biography.com, and Google Search tools such as "Advanced Search" and Time Defined Searches, Google News, and Google Blogs.  New and Recommended:  For deeper search (and an introduction to college level research) see NoodleTools.

4. Save your sites you find within your bookmarks folder (or on Diigo).

*Some of your research may be later incorporated into a review of your biography. Some of your research may help you write genre pieces and may become part of your presentation. Even if your research is not directly used, it may help you have a better understanding of your biography and -- importantly -- you will get credit for each source you include as part of your annotated bibliography.