Assignment Objective

The student will use Media Center resources, print and nonprint, to research topics related to Post WWII world events in either Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, or Latin America.

School Library Media Outcomes

Indicators:
C. Locate appropriate resources to meet information need.

Indicators:
A: Generate appropriate search terminology and strategies.
B: Evaluate specific resources to determine accuracy and relevance of content.

Indicators:
A. Analyze data and information for meaning.
B: Apply critical thinking and problem solving strategies.

Media Center Resources

GHS Online Subscriptions:

From the GHS home page, click on Media Center, then on “Online Resources.” The databases are listed in alphabetical order. Passwords for home use are available in the Media Center, and on Edline, under News.

 

ABC-CLIO World Geography

Click on “Explore a Country” and select a country profile. Click on “Facts and Figures” for “Trade” etc.

 

ABC-CLIO World History: The Modern Era

 

Annals of American History

 

World News Digest

1. Go to “Top News Stories By The Decade” and choose a decade, OR go down to “Special Features” and select “Historic Event Overviews 1940-Present” (choose a decade) or select “Country Profile.”
2. You can also type in your keyword(s) in the box under “Search Options” and click on “Go.” The “hits” will be sorted by Relevance Rank unless you change it to Story Date (most recent ones first).

 

Gale Student Resources in Context

 

Gale Biography in Context

 

Gale U.S.History in Context

 

Gale World History in Context

You can do a timeline search. Click on "Chronology".

 

CIA World Factbook

Select your country from the drop-down menu.

 

 

General Purpose Searching:

 

Google

Examples of searches:

“the name of your country or region” and “after World War II”
“the name of your country or region” and “1950s”
“the name of your country or region” and “cold war”

 

Online Encyclopedias:

 

Encyclopedia Britannica Online

 

 

Periodical (magazine) databases:

 

Proquest Platinum

Here’s how to search in ProQuest:

• Choose the “Advanced Search” tab at the top of the screen.
• Type in the words or phrases to search in the boxes provided (such as: “Skinner” and “behaviorism”).
• Instead of “and” use “within 3”.
• Use no more than two words (in quotes) on each line.
• Leave the default to “All dates” and check off the two boxes under the date range: “Full text documents only” and “Scholarly journals, including peer-reviewed.”
• Click on “Search”.
• Note the number of results. You can go back to limit your search with more terms.
• Choose your article. Note the icons: the abstract is a half-page icon and the full-text is a full-page icon.

 

SIRS Knowledge Source

• Choose “Advanced Search” at the top.
• Try searching by proximity: Type in your two terms (for example—“Freud” and “psychoanalysis”) and have them searched “within 5 words.”
• Choose date under “Sort results by…” to get recent articles. (This database “defaults” to relevance.)
• Press “Search.”
• “Descriptors” icons are links to related articles.

 

 

Search Tips:

1. Note that, in any database or with any search engine, you should wrap quotes around any two or more search terms or keywords in order to “grab up” the phrase for searching.
2. Always check the number of “hits” you search finds. If it is over a hundred be sure to go back and limit your search more.
   

 

 

Print Resources:

Use the table below to guide your search for appropriate books in the Media Center.