Iowa Genealogical Society presents
Research Like a Pro
Diana Elder and Nicole Dyer will teach you how to "Research Like a Pro". They will present on Zoom. The four sessions for the day are:
Session 1 - Create a Research Objective & Analyze your Sources
For the best results, genealogical research should focus on an objective that will guide the project. Attendees will learn how to format a research objective from a research question and discover the power of doing a timeline analysis focused on that objective. We’ll discuss sources, information, and evidence in the context of a complete project.
Session 2 - Learn about the Location, Geography, and History of your Research
Discovering new avenues for research is all about understanding the locality. This class session will explore the importance of local history, geography, and record availability. Attendees will learn how to locate and curate that information, which will be key for creating the research plan.
Session 3 - Make a Research Plan and Create Source Citations
Attendees will learn how to create a functional research plan focused on the objective and information gleaned from the timeline analysis and locality guide. This class session will also cover the importance of citing sources and demonstrate the key elements of a source citation.
Session 4 - Keep a Research Log & Write Conclusions
The research log holds the positive and negative searches performed during a research session. Attendees will learn various formats for logging research and learn what information should be recorded for a search. The final step in a project is to write conclusions based on the research. This class session will explore the importance of writing and demonstrate how to bring together research in a summary or report.
Join the conference at the IGS Library in the East Village of Des Moines or join on Zoom.
All sessions will be recorded and available to all registrants for a limited time after the conference.
We are extending the library hours before the conference. We will be open Friday, October 18th until 7:00 pm.
OPTIONAL: We are extending the library hours on Friday evening until 9 pm. If you are interested in this option, please check the box below.
The library will be open for general researching from 10 am through 7 pm. Let us know if you're interested to join us.
OPTIONAL: If interested, a catered box lunch is available to those attending in person. Please choose your menu option below. Lunch includes sandwich, condiments, chips, fresh fruit, brownie.
