Pathfinder

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 * A pathfinder includes a variety of resources on a particular topic. For any extensive research project, like the Personal Project or Extended Essay, it is important to have a pathfinder that lists possible reliable resources for consideration. Click here for some pathfinder examples.**=====


 * You can complete your own pathfinder. Use this template to help you.**
 * Title, Introduction, and Scope:** Introduce the topic/thesis/question/hypothesis and discuss the scope you will cover.


 * General Advice for Researchers:** Are there truly important specific starting places any researcher must see before doing further research?


 * Essential and Supplementary Questions:** What are the big issues or questions people in the area are pondering? What supplementary questions will help researchers understand the bigger questions?


 * Operational Definitions / New Vocabulary** : Define any critical terms in your research process. How will you be using these terms in your paper? Are there words and terms associated with your research that are unfamiliar to the general public?


 * Dewey/Library of Congress Numbers:** List the numbers and the subtopics that identify works in your topic area.


 * Books: Annotate** any titles that are critically important. You may want to access from Google Scholar if appropriate. If a work is truly not-to-be-missed, you might consider linking to reviews from the New York Times, Amazon, or other online sources.


 * Subscription Databases:** Which subscription services would be best for this research? (For instance, specific Student Resource Center Gold, FOF Oxford, Groves, Blooms, etc.) Explain how these databases will help your research.


 * Gateway or Portal Sites on the Internet:** Are there any major guide sites (Web subject directories) about your subject on the Web? If so, **annotate** the best so your supervisor will know why you started there. You might find these gateway sites by searching directories of specialized search engines. Try ipI.org and look for directories in your results.


 * Specific Web Sites:** List any specific Web sites that may be important. Annotate the very best. If you are dealing with a controversial topics select a balanced group of sites. If you have a good number of sites to suggest, consider arranging them into categories. Include reference and glossary-type Web sites. (Use [| http://glossarist.com] )


 * Primary Sources:** Are there key documents--letters, speeches, legislation, etc--that are important or lead to a better understanding of the topic?


 * Image Resources:** Are there particular sites that will provide subject-specific images? For instance, you might use one of NASA's image databases for research in aeronautics.


 * Online Journals:** List any accessible, full-text journals that will be helpful to you. For instance, for a pathfinder on "training", you might link to //Runner's World Online//.


 * Organizations, Associations** : When appropriate, list the official sites and phone numbers of any major organizations, support groups, etc. involved in the topic. If you have chosen a controversial topic, attempt balance by including representative groups on all sides of the issue.


 * Experts/Scholars** : Are there noted individuals whose names just keep popping up in your best resources? Who are they and why should people researching this topic refer to them?


 * Blogs** : Who is talking about this issue? Are there well-established blogs that offer reliable voices behind an issue or question? (For instance, a soldier's blog might give in-the-field perspective relating to the war in Iraq.) Some of these sites at [| http://alltop.com/] will help you search the blogosphere.


 * Mailing Lists:** Communities of practice or interest may have online threaded discussions offering clues relating to trends and identifying key players.


 * Video/Streaming Video Resources:** Does the library have any films or film series that will add understanding of the topic? Have you discovered any videos that should be rented or purchased and viewed? Are there relevant Web-based videos available from reliable, stable archives?


 * Keywords/Phrases/Subject Headings:** Suggest particular keywords or related terms that would be helpful to use in searching. Consider synonyms, names of noted experts, organizations, etc. When appropriate demonstrate use of searching syntax, for instance, include phrases in quotation marks. Did you discover any surprising subject headings as you browsed through database results?


 * Reflection / Additional Advice to Researchers:** Here you may evaluate and summarize. Remind students of strategies and offer your best advice.


 * Additional Categories:** What else is important to know for the topic of study? For instance, for a topic relating to travel, you might add categories like currency converters, airfare, hotel directories, or translating services.


 * Date** your pathfinder.

The following website also provides a good rubric to assess. [| http://www.sdst.org/shs/library/pathrub.html]
 * Rubric for a Web-based Pathfinder**

Here are a couple of student examples: [| http://www.sdst.org/shs/quest/dppathfinder.htm] on death penalty

[| http://www.sdst.org/shs/quest/organ.htm] on organ transplants