Online Tutorial...
To aid first year law students in becoming better online
researchers we have developed an online tutorial. Even though the tutorial is
touted as being for first year students, don't let the title fool you. It is
much more intensive than any of the first year instructional aids have been to
date. What makes this tutorial of specific value to this class is the depth of
instruction in constructing searches. To access the tutorial you can click here.
Note how there are practice problems set up to show the proper method of
constructing an online search. While the tutorial problems mostly focus on
finding case law, the ability to construct a search that will return the results
you are looking for is exactly the same. Your ability to effectively disect a
problem to construct a search will have a direct effect on the quality of your
results.
In the
window above, you will see how we have completely disected the fact pattern from
a problem in the tutorial. When selecting search terms, get the who, what,
where, when and how. Identify terms of art, potential subject headings and
sub-headings, cites to any law, and terms describing distinguishing facts or
legal issues which may prove critical to solving legal issues. After identifying
these terms you will also need to think of synonyms. Beware of acronyms and "red
herrings" (i.e., any time you choose to include a term as part of your search
there is the danger that you may exclude certain relevant documents).
