Research Guides: Library Tutorials: Research Skills: Practice Activities

About the activities:

These research activities are designed to help you learn important research skills. Read the associated PDF files for a skill overview and/or watch the recorded lectures. Then practice your research skills using the interactive activities.

Paraphrasing Skills

Paraphrasing: Skill Overview

Video: Paraphrasing Skills (recorded lecture)
Recording of the NorQuest library presentation on paraphrasing skills.
Paraphrasing Skills Practice
Using the six steps for effective paraphrasing, practice your paraphrasing skills using three sample sources. You'll also practice in-text citations for paraphrases.

Source Types & Characteristics

Source Types & Characteristics: Skill Overview

Video: Source Types and Characteristics (recorded lecture)
Recording of the NorQuest library presentation on source types and characteristics
Source Types & Characteristics Practice
There are many different types of sources, and different characteristics that can be ascribed to them. Learn about which sources are most suitable for academic assignments, and how to identify them.

Search Strategies: Keywords & Boolean Operators

Search Strategies: Skill Overview

Video: Keywords and Search Strategies (recorded lecture)
This video gives you an introduction to using keywords when searching a database (like the ones available through the library's catalogue) and some strategies to search more effectively and efficiently.
Boolean Card Game
Try out this card game to practice using AND, OR, and NOT Boolean Operators.
Using Keywords Practice
Practice selecting and joining keywords to create effective search terms.

Pre-Research: What type of Researcher are you?

Pre-Research Activity
In this interactive tutorial, learn about research behaviors and what type of researcher you are.
Note this activity does not have a corresponding skill overview reading.

Evaluating Sources

Evaluating Sources: Skill Overview

Video: Evaluating Sources (recorded lecture)
This video will teach you how to evaluate a source for credibility and reliability.
Evaluating Sources Practice
Learn about how to critically evaluate information that you find online. Then practice your critical thinking skills using live website examples.

Developing Research Questions

Research Questions: Skill Overview

Video: Research Questions (recorded lecture)
A recording of a lecture about the how-to's of research questions: creation, parts of, and how to make a high quality research question.
Research Questions Practice
Writing a good research question is an important early step in creating a research essay. Learn about the structure of research questions, and practice identifying good quality research questions.

Database Searching

Database Searching: Skill Overview

Video: Database Searches and Advanced Techniques (recorded lecture)
Teaching you how to search the library's databases with keywords and a few tips and tricks for getting the most out of your research.
Database Searching Practice
Learn about techniques for efficient database searching, and practice applying them.

NorQuest College Library