SMARTER Searching.
Word
Situate
Method
Annotate
Reference
Transfer
Meaning
Find key words to align/revise your
question and to search for other
sources
What keywords are you using and
why? Are they effective?
Look for what and how findings were
developed in previous studies
Did you look at methods from other
studies to help you choose yours?
Document/cite a source with an
annotation on how it relates to your
study
Why did you choose this source? How
is it related to your study?
Use bibliographies of the source to
mine for other sources and other key
words
Did you look at the bibliography of
your favorite source to find other
important sources?
Identify key quotes or elements of the
source that you will add to your
research
Do you have solid evidence from a
source to back up your claims? How is
your work related to someone else’s
work?
Consider bias and gaps-- be critical
What about this source makes it
important or unimportant? Are there
alternative perspectives you have yet
to explore?
Use your PREP journal to record
insights after engaging with several
sources
What “Aha!” moment did you have
when reading your sources this week?
What can you do in the next few days
with what you’ve learned?
Evaluate
Reflect
Guiding Questions
Student Workbook Activity Slides. The College Board, 2015.