How the Contents can help

How the contents can help

L.I. - Library/Research skills

How to use the contents page to research effectively

The table of contents lists the chapters and other main parts of the book.  It is helpful because it gives you a general idea about the book so you know which chapters apply to your research.  Below is an example from a book about the moon.

Table of Contents Introduction                                                                                                                                                       1 Chapter 1      The size of the moon in relation to the earth                                                            5 Chapter 2      How the moon influences Earth’s tides                                                                      17 Chapter 3      Full, half, and quarter moons                                                                                          31 Chapter 4      The lunar landscape: craters, mountain ranges, plains and faults               45 Chapter 5      The maria of the moon                                                                                                       57 Chapter 6      Theories about the origins of the moon                                                                    69 Chapter 7       Lunar geology                                                                                                                      77 Chapter 8       The moon and the age of the telescope                                                                   89 Chapter 9       Spacecraft and their impact on our knowledge of the moon                        103 Chapter 10     The Apollo programme                                                                                                    119 Index                                                                                                                                                                   135

Before you start highlight 4 words you don’t know and look them up in the dictionary.

DICTIONARY MEANINGS

GEOLOGY - The science that deals with the dynamics and physical history of the earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the physical, chemical, and biological changes that the earth has undergone or is undergoing.

LUNAR - of or pertaining to the moon: the lunar orbit.

MARIA - LARGE DARK FLAT AREAS ON THE MOON

INFLUENCE -the capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of others: He used family influence to get the contract.

Answer these questions from the contents page above:

Which two chapters will have the most information about human beings travelling to the moon? Chapter 9 and chapter  10.

Which three chapters will tell you about aspects of the moon in relation to the earth? Chapter 1, 8 and 9.

Which three chapters will tell you things about the surface of the moon? Chapter 4, 5 and 7.

Which chapter will tell you the most about the Earth’s tides? Chapter 2.