Where do I start?

You will need to use a variety of resources to complete this assessment task. This includes both print (printed books, journals, articles) and digital (web searches, databases, online encyclopaedias) resources.

CHSLibrary staff have some print resources for you which are held at the Library Desk for you to use. Please ask if you are unsure where these books are located - Library Staff are here to help.

A quick way to find out more about life in the solar system is to do an internet search but remember to think critically about which websites you use. For example, the National Geographic website is probably more reliable than Wikipedia.

Using a clustering search engine such as Carrot2 rather than relying on a JGI (Just Google It) approach is a more time effective strategy. You will still need to assess the websites you find for suitability but it clusters the results in a meaningful way that can provide additional feedback as well as a more comprehensive search of the web. Assess your sites using the CRAP test. :)

Remember you need to produce your own work and say (cite) where it came from. A great tool for this (using the APA referencing style) is CiteThisForMe. I have added a YouTube video at the bottom of the page that walks you through this very simple process. 

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Before you start (tech check) ...

​​... add this Chrome Extension.

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What sites to use to help you research:  

​Use this widget for articles in the EPIC database. Think about and use some of the search terms you have decided on during your planning.

E.g. click on the PowerSearch button and type in:
The worst places life loves to live

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​Use this site for articles in Encyclopedia Britannica​. Think about and use some of the search terms you have decided on during your planning.

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​Use this widget for articles in the Science in Context database. Think about and use some of the search terms you have decided on during your planning.

​Use this widget for articles in the Student Resources in Context database. Think about and use some of the search terms you have decided on during your planning.

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Other websites to try:

Use this searching tool to find information on life in the solar system. Click on FOAM TREES to see a visual representative of your search.

Alternatively, you can use any search engine you are comfortable with and try these tips for a fine-tuned search:

"solar system" -... putting quote marks " " around your words keeps them together in the search

and ... using and between words/ideas means that the engine will search for this AND that.

- ... using a minus symbol will remove anything from your search that you don't want. Clearing away the clutter can help you see what is there that can be helpful.

Try this: http://bfy.tw/GTxj

​https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/1629-is-anything-out-there

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Is There Life on Mars? The Search for Martian Extremophiles with Doctor Jennifer Hanley from Oakley Anderson-Moore on Vimeo.

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​Conditions required to support life

http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/0_0_0/astrobio_life_03 - information
 
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/eight-ingredients-life-in-space.html - looks at life in space but more useful for conditions to support life.
 
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/06/140625-kepler-exoplanets-life-astrobiology-goldilocks-nasa/ -
looks at life in space but more useful for conditions to support life. Check Library for Nat Geographic June 2014.

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Extremophiles – examples

Carrot2 'extremeophiles' search - Display results in FoamTree and select.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/aqa/interdependence/adaptationsrev5.shtml - Examples and adaptations
 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/21923937  - The life of extremophiles
 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4187170/  - article
 
https://www.kevinabarnes.com/extreme-life/ - article describes the 9 categories of extremophiles found on earth.

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Locations in Solar System that could support life

http://www.space.com/15716-alien-life-search-solar-system.html  - article – annoying site with ads but info ok!
 
https://www.wired.com/2009/01/et-life/ - article
 
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/where-solar-system-are-we-most-likely-find-life-180949994/ - article.
 
http://observer.com/2016/08/nasa-director-reveals-the-4-places-most-likely-to-have-alien-life-in-our-solar-system/  - TED Talk article  with link to Talk - also includes “ingredients for life” posed in Question 1 .

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Referencing your work using APA style

Use CiteThisForMe as your referencing tool. It uses a Chrome Extension.
Watch the tutorial below and follow the instructions given.

​Click HERE for an exemplar Bibliography.

It includes format templates for:

• websites
• books
• journal articles
• visiting speakers