Information Management

(Understanding, using and interpreting information)

Screen your information as you find it.

• Skim/scan for major ideas and keywords
  • You can find more search terms to find more information
• Is this information useful for your paper/project?
  • Know the difference between fact, opinion, propaganda, and bias.
  • Is the information from a primary or secondary source?

    Primary source - reports, letters, speeches written at the time of the events.

    Secondary source - information provided by a person who has researched the topic later.

  • Organize, classify or group your information.
  • Look for cause and effect
  • Revise and redefine the information problem/topic if necessary.

Working with your information.

• Summarize
• Paraphrase to avoid plagiarism
• Organize and analyze
  • Interpret the information so you can express what it means to you and what you have concluded from it.
  • Now your information is new and your own, not someone else's.
• Compare with original topic. 
  • Decide if you need more information or need to re-examine information already found.
• Draw conclusions
  • This is where you make your own judgements about the topic and prove your thesis statement.