Pathfinder: Country Searches

Step 1: Define your task: Look at the assignment/essential question.

Step 2: What materials might be useful for the project? Books, Encyclopedias, Online Encyclopedias, Websites.

Step 3: Find the material.

• Books about countries - Use the Online Catalog ..
• Encyclopedias: World Book Encyclopedia: R 030 Wor. Lands and Peoples R910 Lan 2005
• Online Encyclopedias: Grolier includes Lands and People, Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia, and Encyclopedia Americana. World Book Online is also available. Both are excellent sources of information and pictures.
• Online Database: Gale’s Student Resource Center Gold includes information about many countries. Click on “Geography and Cultures Search.” Click on “Places.” Click on the down arrow next to the search box and scroll down to the country. This is an excellent source of information and pictures.
• Online Database: ABC/CLIO’s World Geography includes information about many countries. Click on the down arrow next to “Select a Country Profile” and scroll down to the desired country.
• E-Books:
  • Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations. Five volume set. Geography, climate, economy, culture, etc. Great resource.
  • Geo-Data: The World Geographical Encyclopedia. Detailed geographic information including physical features and climate.
  • Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cultures. Concise information on many cultures.
  • Gale Virtual Reference Library: Click on "view publications" next to "Nation and World" for a list of other ebooks about countries.
  • Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of Foods and Recipes of the World. Foods and recipes from 75 cultures in 60 countries.
• Online Database: EBSCO’s Middle Search Plus is a good source of factual information and pictures.
• The following websites have information about many countries:

CIA World Factbook: http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/

Asian Studies WWW Virtual Library: http://coombs.anu.edu.au/WWWVL-AsianStudies.html

Foreign Embassies of Washington DC:  http://www.embassy.org/embassies/

Background Notes from the U.S. Department of State: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/

World Cuisines from the Google Directory: http://directory.google.com/Top/Home/Cooking/World_Cuisines/

The Weather Channel: www.weather.com Look under "Averages and Records" to find average monthly temperature and rainfall for most major cities.

Step 4: Use the material. Read it and take notes. CITE YOUR SOURCES!!! Citation worksheets are available in the library or in your Blackboard Library Learning Center course under Citations.

Step 5: Synthesize the information: Prepare and present the skit, poster, power point, song, poem, or other approved product. PREPARE YOUR BIBLIOGRAPHY.

Step 6: Evaluate: Does the item you prepared answer the essential question. Have you met the requirements for the assignment?

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Web Curator: Les.Jones@fcps.edu

Last Update: January 9, 2008

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