All information tools will work for something. The trick is to match the task with the tool. It's slow going digging a six foot hole with a spoon and it's just as hard to get a shovel in your mouth.

Encyclopedias are useful for:

• quick answers to specific factual questions
• a general overview of a topic (and therefore a good research starting point)
• a specialists objective discussion of a topic
• information that does not need to be very very current (check the copyright date)
• creating lists opf people, places and evenmts attached to a general topic

Books are useful for

• lengthy discussions on a topic
• well researched information
• well organized information to access with an index or table of contents
• text supported by graphics
• information that does not need to be very current (check the copyright date)
• in-depth coverage of a topic
• information about controversial topics

Periodicals are useful for:

• information on current events
• information on "pop" culture
• local news and information
• the latest information on a topic
• well supported opinions from professional journalists
• quick ionformation on a small part of a larger topic

The Internet is useful for:

• information you can't find anywhere else
• information I am able to verify is correct
• recent information
• biased information
• gathering a great variety of information

Please send comments or questions to the 4J Web Team.
Eugene School District 4J
200 North Monroe Street, Eugene, Oregon 97402
Phone: 541.687.3123 [TTD 541.687.3447]

Last modified: October, 2003 by Steinke, Ague, Feuerhelm, Maxwell, and Warburg