Using the Internet for your Research

Using the Internet for your Research
(Over) simplified hints from Selvam
 What is a URL?

Uniform Resource Locator

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniform_resource_locator
 
Wikipedia.org

It is a very useful resource to find simple definitions and explanation for almost anything under the sun.  But do not copy and paste.
Be an intelligent scholar.  Use the references that are used in the article.

Important: go down to the reference list and see if there is any attached pdf file and click on it.
Google.com

Today, teacher is no more the expert!  Google everything!
However, as a smart scholar you should know how to make out what is a scholarly material and what is not.  Try not to cite material from webpages or blogs – these are just opinions.  But internet has a plenty of scholarly material.
Often scholarly files (journal articles and book chapters) are in pdf (Portable Document Format).

Step 1: To get pdf files out of the internet, google your search word + pdf
Example: mungiki pdf
Step 2: […]

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How to Study 1 – SQ3R Method

Now, here is a typical method of study : SQ3R.  This method, which has been proved effective all over the world, could be applied to any type of study, be it studying your class lessons or reading a book of serious nature.
SQ3R stands for SURVEY, QUESTION, READ, RECITE or RECALL and REVISE. These are the five steps of this method of study.
1. SURVEY
Choose the matter to study, keeping in mind its importance, your priorities, and your moods.  Have a quick glance through the headings and sub-headings of the material you are going to study. If you are reading a book it would be necessary to go through the Back-cover comment, Table of contents, (Preface, if there is) and even the Introduction. Having an overall perspective helps your mind to organize the data and to be better prepared to receive it.
2. QUESTION
Turn the headings, now, into questions.  What is the selection/text […]

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How to Study 2 – Facing Exams

PREPARING FOR EXAM
1. The first day to prepare for your exams is today.  simply put, don’t wait for the last day to arrive to begin to study.  Study your daily lessons.  Every weekend revise your lessons of the week.
2.  Before two weeks of your exams your immediate preparation begins.  Plan your time then distributing well the time available.  By now you should know the exact schedule of your exams.
3.  Know what you are expected to know.  That is, have clear in mind what is the portion for the exam.  It is even helpful to make a list of lessons for each subject that you need to study.  And as you finish the lesson make a tick mark.  This would help you plan your study time as well.
4. Know also the model of the question paper that you will have to face.  This would make you less nervous.  It would be […]

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How to Study 3 – How to Take Notes in Class

Good notes are your insurance against forgetting.  Learn to take notes efficiently in class and as you read books.  Even for the printed notes that the teachers may give, or the text book teachers follow, it would be useful to write your own notes.  They are particularly useful at the vigil of your exams, saves you time and energy.  Your notes should be neat and orderly, easy to revise.  More about this later. Keep also a record of the date of submission of your assignments and homework, and dates of tests announced.
There are different occasions that a student has to take notes, viz. While listening to a lecture, or while reading a book.  The hints we are suggesting here could be applied to any type of writing notes and particularly taking notes to write a scientific work.
Different Materials for Taking Notes
There are different materials for taking notes, it depends […]

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How to Study 4 – Improve your Reading

READING RACE
Importance of Reading
Aristotle said, “Man is what he knows”.  Someone rephrased it as, “Man is what he thinks the whole day.”  Reading not only gives you something to think about, but also makes you think.  Reading makes your mind active, it stimulates creative.  Without reading you thoughts could become redundant and your actions follow your thoughts.
If you analyse the history of human ideas, those who contributed to history were invariably voracious readers.  Karl Marx for instance learnt everything in a library, as he himself was a librarian.  As priests and educators we are constantly called upon to give talks, seminars and sermons.  So we need ideas.  If you look for ideas on that day, you may not get it, nor will you know how where to find it.  Reading is a habit that has to be cultivated when you are still young, especially when you are a student.
Many […]

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