Pathfinder: Diseases

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 – these have been placed on a cart.
• Encyclopedias – World Book Encyclopedia has information about diseases.
• Online Encyclopedias: Grolier’s has information about a number of diseases, but may be necessary to search by the infectious agent instead of the disease name.
• Online Databases: Try Gale’s Health and Wellness Resource Center for background information or Gale’s Infotrac One File or Expanded Academic ASAP for periodical articles.
• e-books:
  • Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders. A great place for one-stop shopping for information about genetic disorders.
  • Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Infectious and genetic diseases.
• Websites:
  • MedlinePlus, the Federal Government’s Health Page: www.medlineplus.gov A great place to start. Includes information from a variety of sources with links to other important sites.
  • National Center for Infectious Diseases: Traveller’s Health: http://www.cdc.gov/travel/diseases.htm
  • Centers for Disease Control. http://www.cdc.gov
  • KidsHealth. www.kidshealth.org Information for kids, teens, and parents.
  • Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. Pretty complicated. Only for the very brave.
  • WebMD http://www.webmd.com/ A valuable but complicated resource.

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 paper you wrote answer the essential question? Have you met the requirements for the assignment?

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Web Curator: Les.Jones@fcps.edu

Last Update: 1/24/08

Web Page Designer: Kathy Noble