Tracking the Facts: How to Develop Research Skills (Study Skills)

Grade 5-9-- This introduction to research skills is up-to-date, clear, and well organized. It gives advice about how to choose a topic, and explains how to find information in reference books and periodicals. It tells students how to get information by conducting interviews, how to take notes, and how to compile a bibliography. It explains the difference between primary and secondary sources as well as the uses of data-base searching. The exaggerated cartoon-style illustrations may enliven the text for younger or reluctant readers, but could detract from the appeal for older or more serious students. Both genders are represented in the illustrations. The people, all done in a garish pink, are drawn with oversized circles for eyes, and oversized feet. How to Write a Report (Watts: o.p.) by Gerald Newman and How to Write a Term Paper (Lothrop, both 1980) by Elizabeth James cover similar material for this age group, but neither mention data-base searching or interviewing. Both are longer and on a higher reading level than Tracking the Facts . Despite the drawbacks of the illustrations, this book should be useful for students doing a research paper for the first time. --Anne Price, Ann Mersereau School, Bronx, NY
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.