Introduction:
The words "endangered species" means any specie, plant or animal, that is in immediate danger of becoming extinct. These species are included in "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species", which is maintained by the World Conservation Union, and is updated every four years. According to the red list, there are approximately 7,850 animal species around the world that are considered either critically endangered, endangered, or vulnerable to extinction. The protection of these species and their habitats is crucial to their survival. In this pathfinder, I will research endangered species, causes for their endangerment, and ways in which we can protect these species and their habitats, before they become extinct.
Topic Analysis:
Academic disciplines: environmental studies, natural resources, wildlife preservation
Library of Congress Classification: SF for animal cultures, QH for natural history, QL for zoology.
Useful Keywords and Subject Headings: Endangered species, threatened species, world wildlife foundation, exctinct species, natural resource preservation, wildlife protection, rare species, endangered species list, save endangered species, poaching, extinct species, illegal hunting, wildlife conservation, conservation efforts, threatened species.
Most Important Databases: Internet Public Library, Public Site Search, ProQuest, Google Advanced Search.
Identifying Keywords and Subject Headings: I began only searching the keywords endangered species, and then began branching off from there. Some of the most helpful keywords I used were endangered species, threatened species, save endangered species, and wildlife conservation. These keywords led me to a large number of organizations that focus on saving endangered species. Organizations such as the World Wildlife Foundation seem to be the most interested in protecting endangered species. When I searched for the endangered species list, it was much harder to find, and much more detailed than I thought. The list is very extensive, and there are many levels of status for species, from extinct to least concern.
My Research Process:
Searching the same keywords on different databases brought up a large variety of information. For example, the key phrase "save endangered species" would bring up a large number of web sites or articles on one database, and would bring up very little on another database. I used these keywords and key phrases in different combinations on different databases to find information on my topic. The only real challenge I ran in to was the fact that I did not find as many books about protecting endangered species as I did articles, journals and web sites.
This is a topic that is mostly researched by environmentalists, natural resource specialists, and organizations who’s main goal is to help protect endangered species, and educate the public about these species. This is an on-going topic, because the status of all animal species are constantly changing. Some species are closer to extinction, some are thriving, and some remain about the same in population. Because of this, I was able to find older information as well as current information on endangered species and how to protect them and their habitats.
When I began this project, I thought that most of my information would come from articles about specific animals, and stories about their endangerment. As I have discovered, there are far too many different individual stories to sort through. It is better to research endangered species as a whole, and what can be done to help protect them. Also, I thought I would be able to find a lot of statistical information about these species, but I realized that because there are so many of these endangered species around the world, that was going to be very hard to do. I could search for a list of endangered species in Washington state only, or the United states only, or any other country only, but even these lists are huge. And since I am researching this topic on a global level, it is easier to search the idea of "endangered species" itself. Luckily, I found the IUCN Red List website, with the most current list of the world’s endangered species.
Using the internet as a resource helped me research my topic tremendously. I was able to find not only web sites, but articles from magazines and periodicals, and even streaming video programs about certain endangered species. At the Wenatchee Valley College library, I found not nearly as many books about endangered species as I thought I would. Because of this, the periodical database at the library and the internet at home helped me out a lot.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Weeek 7 Blog...
Well this week's assignments seem to be going really well.
I seem to be (at least I hope I am) getting better at the MLA citations as well as the annotations of sources. MLA citations have always been a struggle for me, and I guess you really have to be careful which MLA guide you use. They must be changing the MLA format through the years, because one MLA formatting guide I found on the internet was WAY different than another one I used. But, I've recently learned that not everything on the internet is up to date! Some of it is really old, and should be deleted.
Anyway, I am trying to compile as much information as I can for my pathfinder from the last few week's assignments. I never thought I would come up with this much information to sort through! I guess I never realized while researching a subject how much junk there is compared to how much useful information there is.
I seem to be (at least I hope I am) getting better at the MLA citations as well as the annotations of sources. MLA citations have always been a struggle for me, and I guess you really have to be careful which MLA guide you use. They must be changing the MLA format through the years, because one MLA formatting guide I found on the internet was WAY different than another one I used. But, I've recently learned that not everything on the internet is up to date! Some of it is really old, and should be deleted.
Anyway, I am trying to compile as much information as I can for my pathfinder from the last few week's assignments. I never thought I would come up with this much information to sort through! I guess I never realized while researching a subject how much junk there is compared to how much useful information there is.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Week 6 Blog
I appologize for all of the late assignments.
This week I discovered a MUCH easier way to access proquest. I couldn't find the right link to the database through the seattle community college before, and I only had limited access to the database. I'm not sure what I did differently now, but I was able to enter my SID and access the entire database.
Anyway, the more i research my subject, the more confident I am about it (which is probably how it is supposed to work). I am more confident that I will have enough information, because I am finding a wider variety of information than I previously thought i would. Partially because I am coming up with new key terms to search that bring up new ideas and different angles on the same subject.
The fact that our weekly assignments help us research our subject further, and help us with the overall project is awesome. They really help you understand what you are doing, step by step, instead of just leaving you in the dark, to figure it out on your own. I appreciate that.
This week I discovered a MUCH easier way to access proquest. I couldn't find the right link to the database through the seattle community college before, and I only had limited access to the database. I'm not sure what I did differently now, but I was able to enter my SID and access the entire database.
Anyway, the more i research my subject, the more confident I am about it (which is probably how it is supposed to work). I am more confident that I will have enough information, because I am finding a wider variety of information than I previously thought i would. Partially because I am coming up with new key terms to search that bring up new ideas and different angles on the same subject.
The fact that our weekly assignments help us research our subject further, and help us with the overall project is awesome. They really help you understand what you are doing, step by step, instead of just leaving you in the dark, to figure it out on your own. I appreciate that.
Revised Research Plan
Title: Saving endangered species
Topic Focus: How can we protect endangered species? How can we decrease the amount of endangered species? -and protect their habitat
Scope: In my project, I plan to cover information about endangered species. Statistics about endangered species, endangered species list, past and present efforts to protect them, causes for their endangerment, effects of humans and development on these species, and solutions to help protect them, and bring them off the endangered species list.
Outline: What is endangered species, -end. sp. stats & the list, -causes of end. sp. (humans & other causes), -past & present efforts, -solutions, programs, what you can do.
Academic Disciplines: Some subject areas that may have information on this topic are environmental studies, natural resources, wildlife preservation, zoology.
Key Terms: Endangered species, world wildlife foundation, exctinct species, natural resource preservation, wildlife protection, rare species, endangered species list, save endangered species
Note: I have discovered a few new key terms: Poaching, Extinct species, illegal hunting, wildlife conservation, conservation efforts, threatened species,
Nature of Topic: I think that periodicals and research articles would be the source that would have the most information on my subject. There will be a few books on the subject as well. I will also most likely find a lot of information about this subject on the internet.
Environmentalists, Natural resource specialists, wildlife foundations, and Animal rights people will be most interested in this topic.
Library of Congress Classification (LC) Areas: SF for animal cultures, QH for natural history, QL for zoology. I didn't see any specific call numbers in the library of congress classification list.
Topic Focus: How can we protect endangered species? How can we decrease the amount of endangered species? -and protect their habitat
Scope: In my project, I plan to cover information about endangered species. Statistics about endangered species, endangered species list, past and present efforts to protect them, causes for their endangerment, effects of humans and development on these species, and solutions to help protect them, and bring them off the endangered species list.
Outline: What is endangered species, -end. sp. stats & the list, -causes of end. sp. (humans & other causes), -past & present efforts, -solutions, programs, what you can do.
Academic Disciplines: Some subject areas that may have information on this topic are environmental studies, natural resources, wildlife preservation, zoology.
Key Terms: Endangered species, world wildlife foundation, exctinct species, natural resource preservation, wildlife protection, rare species, endangered species list, save endangered species
Note: I have discovered a few new key terms: Poaching, Extinct species, illegal hunting, wildlife conservation, conservation efforts, threatened species,
Nature of Topic: I think that periodicals and research articles would be the source that would have the most information on my subject. There will be a few books on the subject as well. I will also most likely find a lot of information about this subject on the internet.
Environmentalists, Natural resource specialists, wildlife foundations, and Animal rights people will be most interested in this topic.
Library of Congress Classification (LC) Areas: SF for animal cultures, QH for natural history, QL for zoology. I didn't see any specific call numbers in the library of congress classification list.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Week 4 Blog-
Wow did I get a late start on week 4. Today, I am trying to get caught up on everything I've gotten behind in. I had such a hard time finding a research topic and then it hit me... The whole reason I am going to college is to obtain a natural resources certificate. It's something I feel strongly about, why don't I do my paper about endangered species around the world? After completing all of week 4's assignments, I feel like I have a good grip on my research topic. *sigh* and I can breathe again! I'm looking forward to week 5 assignments because I think they will only help me feel more confident about the topic I have chosen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
