GLOSSARY or A LIST OF USEFUL WORDS

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 ENGINE: 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