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Topic Guides - Social Studies

This how-to guide helps students and their parents navigate resources connected to Social Studies topics.

Search Terms

Search terms are specific key words or phrases are necessary to find information in databases or the library catalog. We recommend: 

  • Bill of Rights
  • Democracy
  • Executive branch
  • Government agencies
  • Judicial branch
  • Legislative branch
  • Political science
  • United States government

Search Strategies

  • Primary sources are original, immediate accounts of information, records, or objects that were created by participants/observers of historical events. Example: The U.S. Constitution.
  • You can use these search terms to find books in the library catalog and eBooks or eAudiobooks in the eLibrary.
  • To narrow your search, type two terms into a search bar in this format: "Term 1" AND "Term 2". This search will only provide resources that include both terms. Combine any two search terms from the box into a database search bar to see what you find. 
  • Find more database search tips on the Debate Issues & Paper Topics guide, in the Database Search Tops box. 

Standards and Knowledge Building

This guide is connected to the following Colorado Academic Standards 

  • Describe the origins, foundations, purposes, roles, and limitations of the structures and functions of government.
  • Evaluate the impact of the political institutions that link the people to the government.

This guide will support students by building further knowledge in: 

  • Different library resources –what they are and how they are useful for finding information relevant to a U.S. government class.
  • How to effectively find articles, primary sources, and other materials to support the study of the U.S. government.
  • How to effectively find information in these sources using search terms.

Contact

Profile Photo
Mikaela Fortune
Contact:
5550 N. Union Blvd.
Colorado Springs, CO
80918
(719) 531-6333

Welcome to the Government Topic Guide!

Databases

Databases are subject-specific search engines that provide access to journal articles and other reliable resources. The following PPLD databases are recommended for students studying government:

Reference Materials

Reference materials are things like encyclopedias and handbooks that provide quick facts and summaries of different subjects. The following encyclopedias and dictionaries in the PPLD catalog support the study of government:

Reference materials are things like encyclopedias and handbooks that provide quick facts and summaries of different subjects. The following books in the PPLD catalog support the study of government:

Explore (multimedia and recommended websites)

You can use trusted, online sources to find information. For more information on reliable, online sources, please visit PPLD’s Debate Issues & Paper Topics guide. PPLD recommends:

Use these multimedia sources to watch or listen to information on this topic.