Biology: Home

Use this list of usernames and passwords to access our databases from home.

Once you've selected your topic, the next step is to create a list of keywords that can be used to search the library catalog, databases and/or the web to find information on your topic. 

• Start by writing down your research topic as a statement or question.
• Circle your keywords (important words) in your statement/question.
• Write any synonyms underneath the keywords.
• Put your keywords together in various search strings.

To access the traditional Destiny Search screen with Resource Lists, click the link below:

1.  Get background information from reference articles in Gale in Context or Britannica.

2,  Use multiple words rather than single keywords once you’ve narrowed down your topic.

3.  Put phrases (words that need to be side-by-side) in quotation marks(") so that you can find an exact phrase in a document. Examples: "global warming", "amino acids", "genetic engineering", "down syndrome"

4.  Truncate your word and use an asterisk after it to pick up all forms of the word.  For example, using the search term teen*, would expand the search to include the terms, teen, teens, teenager, teenagers, teenaged

5.  Use AND, OR or NOT, also called Boolean operators, to help narrow or expand your hits

•    Teen* AND stress.  Hits will contain both search terms, so you will get articles that contain both words.  This choice will narrow your search and you will get less articles because both terms have to be in each article.
•    Teens* OR "young adults".  Hits will contain just one of the two search terms, so you will get lots of articles because only one of your search terms will be in them.  OR is often used to combine synonyms or like concepts. 
•    Jaguar NOT car.   Hits will have the word jaguar in them but will not refer to the automobile. NOT should be used sparingly since it can eliminate information that might have been relevant. Other examples: children NOT teens / Mexico NOT "New Mexico"
• You can combine groups or sets in a variety of ways using the different combinations of Boolean operators. Example:  (high school students OR college students) AND (drugs OR alcohol) 

Remember:

• Citations from databases can be exported directly to NoodleTools (the exception is Britannica)
• Use the Quick Cite (Copy and Paste) to add citations from Britannica.
• Articles in reference books often have the author's name at the end of the article
• If you have forgotten your password click the I forgot my password link under the Sign In box.
• NoodleTools can now cite content created using AI like Chat GPT.