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=Senior Project Pathfinder= Help using the print and online resources in the library to research topics for your senior project.

**Choosing a topic**
Since you have been charged with writing a paper that takes a stand, try the topic guides in the following databases that specialize in "controversial" topics
 * Opposing Viewpoints in Context Browse Issues
 * Congressional Digest Recent Issues
 * Issues and Controversies Issues A-Z

**How to Write a Good Thesis Statement:**
The following websites provide suggestions on making powerful thesis statements. Make sure, however, that you follow the guidelines given by your teacher.
 * Dartmouth: Writing a Thesis Sentence
 * Purdue OWL: Tips & Examples for Writing a Thesis Statement
 * University at Albany: The Research Process

Problem Ticket
Promptly report any research issues using this PROBLEM TICKET. Failure to report problems will result in point loss for your productivity/classwork grade.

Running Works Cited/Bibliography
A running works cited will be handed in several times during the course of this paper. Make sure to construct your citations **//as soon as you have decided to use a source//**.

Print Materials
Try different searches, broadening or narrowing your search:
 * [[image:englishsrproject/dynix.jpg link="http://horizon.dcboces.org/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=C29L254B76625.36680&profile=shs&menu=search&submenu=power&ts=1292254376640#focus"]] || ===Search the Library Catalog===
 * A. General Nonfiction Books** are available for 3-week checkout
 * B. Reference Books** are either for library use only or overnight checkout. Photocopies can be made.
 * C. eBooks** can be read in their entirety on a computer. Links to eBooks are available through the library catalog and via Gale Virtual Reference Library. . ||

Specialized Databases
The

Databases
Passwords are available in the library. Note: If the widgets listed below do not work use the text links listed in the section below the images.


 * < media type="custom" key="7832361" ||< media type="custom" key="7833391" ||
 * < media type="custom" key="7832367" ||< media type="custom" key="7833159" ||
 * < [[image:shs-participationingovernment/cdigest.jpg caption="Congressional Digest provides access to the archives of the Congressional Digest, Supreme Court Debates, and International Debates." link="@http://congressionaldigest.com/"]] ||< [[image:englishsrproject/jstor.jpg link="@http://www.jstor.org/"]] ||
 * media type="custom" key="22322708" || [[image:englishsrproject/sciencedirect_1.jpg link="@http://www.sciencedirect.com/"]] ||


 * About the Databases listed above:**
 * **Issues & Controversies**** allows you to search pro/con articles on controversial topics.
 * Citation:** MLA available, remove URL.


 * **ProQuest**** provides access to full-text articles from journals and magazines.
 * Citation:** Make sure to change the citation style to MLA 7th edition

Be sure to check out each tab: Reference, Magazines,Newspapers, Primary Documents and Multimedia.
 * **Student Resources in Context****contains reference books, magazines, newspapers, primary documents, and multimedia files on your topic.
 * Citation:** MLA provided, do not include URL. Check for accuracy.

Magazines & Newspapers, Images, Primary Documents and Websites. Print versions of many of the Opposing Viewpoints books are available in the library.
 * Opposing Viewpoints in Context** has pro/con articles on controversial topics. Be sure to check out all tabs: Viewpoints, Reference, Statistics,
 * Citation:** Available in MLA format, do not use URL. Check for accuracy.


 * JSTOR** contains academic journals, see Mrs. Chen if you cannot access an article full-text
 * Citation:** MLA citation not provided but information needed to construct is given.

**Gale Power Search** - searches 46 Gale databases at once including Student Resources in Context and Opposing Viewpoints.
 * Citation:** MLA citation provided, do not include URL. Check for accuracy.


 * Science Direct** - search scientific journals. See Mrs. Chen if you cannot access an article full-text
 * Citation:** MLA citation not provided. Exporting citation in plain text will give you some of the information required to construct the citation.

Websites
//**Wikipedia**// is, of course, prohibited for use in this paper. It is suggested you do not use //Google//, use these Recommended Search Engines instead:

Additional recommended sites are available in the left column of the SHS Library's Weblinks page.
 * [[image:englishsrproject/sweetsearch.jpg width="145" height="63" link="@http://www.sweetsearch.com/"]] || [[image:shs-participationingovernment/ipl.jpeg width="234" height="104" link="@http://www.ipl.org/"]] ||
 * [[image:shs-participationingovernment/infotopia.jpg link="@http://www.infotopia.info/"]] || [[image:englishsrproject/vlrclogo3.gif width="282" height="34" link="@http://www.virtuallrc.com/"]] ||
 * [[image:englishsrproject/books_logo_lg.png width="180" height="63" link="@http://books.google.com/"]] || [[image:englishsrproject/googleScholar.gif width="201" height="73" link="@http://scholar.google.com/"]] ||

For additional citation information visit the SHS Citation webpage.



Website Sample1 Website Sample 2 Tanya Sasvary, March 19, 2012.