GLOSSARY

AUTHOR
the person who wrote (or created) something

BIB CARD
a note card that lists a single source (a book, magazine or webpage) where you found information

BIBLIOGRAPHY
a list of sources where you found information when doing research (usually sources are listed on the last page of your report)

BOGUS
something that is not true, something fake

BOOLEAN
special words that give a person more control over Search Engine results

BOT or ROBOT (see also: SPIDER)
a special computer program that Search Engines use to find information on the Internet

BRAINSTORM
an activity where you make a note of anything that comes into your mind, no matter how silly it might seem; a great way to begin a project

CALL NUMBER
a special number that helps you locate a book in a library

CAPITAL LETTERS
big letters: usually the first letter of a title or name is CAPITALIZED, or the first word of a sentence (also called UPPER CASE LETTERS)

CD (or CD-ROM)
compact disc which can be played on a computer (or sometimes on a device for listening to music)

CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER
the order in which things happen

CITE
to list your sources (where you got the information)

CLUSTERING METHOD
a way to take notes that uses a circle with lines radiating out from it (also called MAPPING or WEBBING)

COMPARISON
to look for both similarities and differences between two or more things

CONCLUSION
a judgment made at the end of careful study and thought

CONTRAST
to look for differences between two or more things

CREDIBLE
something that you can believe because it's true

CURRENT EVENTS
things that have happened recently

DATA
information

EMAIL (stands for ELECTRONIC MAIL)
a method to write notes to other people on the Internet (It requires you to have a computer connected to the Internet).

EMAIL ADDRESS
where a person receives his or her email on the Internet (It requires a contract with a SERVICE PROVIDER).

ENCYCLOPEDIA
a huge collection of articles on many subjects; it can be a set of books, or a computer website or CD-ROM

ENDNOTE
a note at the end of a report that explains something in the report in more detail

ESSENTIAL
something that is very important or necessary

EVALUATE
to decide the value of something, or make a judgment about it

EXPERT
someone who knows a lot about a subject because he or she has studied it for many years

FACT
something that is true, (and usually can be proven)

FIVE-FINGER TEST
a fun way to decide if a book would be too difficult for you to read

FOOTNOTE
a note at the bottom of a page (of a report) that explains something in more detail

GENERAL
not limited or specialized, referring to a whole group (such as a class of students)

HELP
a special page on some websites where you can find assistance if you get lost or confused

INDEX
a list in the back of some books of subjects in alphabetical order (with page numbers where the subjects can be found)

INTERNET
the world wide web; actually billions of computers connected all over the world through a system of websites

KEY WORDS
important words; they will help you find information in an index or search engine

LIBRARY
a place with lots of books, magazines, resources and sometimes has computers connected to the Internet

LIBRARY CATALOG
a list of all the books and resources of a library; it's usually on a special computer in the library

LINK
a page that is connected with another page on the Internet

(Usually links are underlined or in a different color. Sometimes a button or picture can be a link. The mouse pointer will turn into a hand with one finger pointing up when you roll the mouse over a link. When clicked, a link will take you to another webpage.

LOWER CASE LETTERS
small letters

MAGAZINE
a book (usually with paper covers) that is published at regular times during the year (for example: Weekly Reader, Cricket Magazine)

ONLINE
when you are using a computer that is connected to the internet

OUTLINE
a plan or summary, which lists only the most important points

ORGANIZE
to put things in some kind of order

PASSWORD
a special word (or combination of letters and numbers) that acts like a key to let you into a website

PHOTOCOPY
a "Xerox" copy, made on a copy machine

PHRASE
a part of a sentence; a few words that describe something without being a complete sentence

PLAGIARISM
copying something without giving credit to the person who created it

PLURAL
more than one, two or more things (for instance: two dogs, some rockets)

PORTFOLIO
a packet of finished work; can be a booklet, notebook, folder

POWERPOINT PRESENTATION
a special computer program that allows a person to create a slideshow, or give a report with pictures, maps and charts

PRINT COMMAND
the key or combination of keys on a computer that allows a person to print a document. On Windows systems, it's sometimes "Alt-P". On Macintosh, it's usually "Command–P".

PUBLISHER
the company that printed a book or created a website

QUERY
your question for a search engine

QUEST
a search; looking for something

QUOTATION MARKS
two little marks at the beginning and end of something copied word-for-word; they look like "this"

REFERENCE BOOK
a book that you can use to find information; a book specially written to help with research

RESEARCH
to study a subject or look for an answer to a question

RESOURCE
something that helps you

RUBRIC
a method for judging how well you do something

SCAN (also known as SKIM or SURVEY)
to look across a page quickly to get an idea of the information

SEARCH
to look for something

SEARCH ENGINEE
a way of looking for information on the Internet

SERVICE PROVIDER
a company that provides people with Internet connections, such as email and browsing the World Wide Web

SIMILAR
something that is like something else

SINGULAR
a single thing, only one thing (for instance: a dog or the rocket)

SOURCE
where something comes from

SPECIFIC
a particular instance or item (for example: the Space Shuttle is a specific kind of rocket)

SPIDER
not the 8-legged creature, but a special computer program that Search Engines use to find information on the Internet

STRATEGY
a plan for action

SUBJECT
what a book or article is about; the topic

SYNONYM
a word that means the same thing as another word (for instance: rocket and spaceship)

TABLE OF CONTENTS
a list of chapters, stories or articles in the beginning of some books

TEXT
words on a page

THINKING CAP
an imaginary (or real) hat that might help you think carefully about something

TITLE
the name of something: a book, article, magazine, movie, etc.

TOPIC
the main theme or subject

TOPIC LINKS
a list of subjects at the top of a webpage

TUTORIAL
a short lesson that teaches you how to do something

UPPER CASE
capital letters

URL
a website address (usually looks like this: www.mywebsite.com)

USER NAME
how you are identified on the internet (used with a password)

VENN DIAGRAM
a method of taking notes that uses two circles that overlap in the center (It's especially good for comparing two ideas).

WEBSITE
a page or collection of pages on the Internet

WORLD WIDE WEB
the Internet; actually billions of computers connected all over the world