Using the Indux

Using an index

L.I. - Library/Research skills

Using an index to find information quickly

Most non-fiction books have an index.  Like a table of contents, it lists the books contents and relevant page numbers, but in much more detail.  It presents the topics in alphabetical order to help your search.  Below is an example from a health book.

INDEX aerobics                    2-14 breathing                 9-10 carbohydrates      36 co-ordination         20-25 cycling                       32 diet                              30-40 diseases                   45-65 doctor                       40-44 drinking                    63 drugs, harmful      70-75 drugs, medical       60-65 exercise                    11-20 fat                               35 fatigue                      76-79 good health            80-90 happy                       91-92 hospital                    40-44, 48-65 hygiene                    93-94

illness                           45-65 incapacitated           45-65 injuries                         60-65 inoculation                 96-98 lungs                             9-10, 60-64 medicine                      45-65, 96-98 mental illness            99-120 moods                          99-104 pharmacist                 60-65 physical activities     121-150 rest                                 151-155 self-discipline              115-120               smoking                       121-124 sport                             15-20 strength                      12-14 vigour                           140-150 vitamins                       64-65 weight                           30-35

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

diseases -a disordered or incorrectly functioning organ, part, structure, or system of the body resulting from the effect of genetic or developmental errors, infection,poisons, nutritional deficiency or imbalance, toxicity, or unfavorable environmental factors; illness; sickness; ailment.

incapacitated -to deprive of ability, qualification, or strength; make incapable or unfit;disable.

carbohydrates  -any of a class of organic compounds that are polyhydroxy aldehydes or polyhydroxy ketones, or change to such substances on simple chemical transformations, as hydrolysis, oxidation, or reduction, and that form the supporting tissues of plants and are important food for animals and people

cycling -Also called bicycle race, bicycle racing. Sports. a race on lightweight bicycles with low handlebars, conducted for specified distances or against time on a dirt or board track or over public roads between cities.

Why are there two index entries for drugs?

because the index are about drugs.

Which two entries will help you find out about tiredness and how to cope?

pharmacist 60-65 and injuries 60-65

Which pages would you turn to in order to find out about injuries?

hospital     40-44, 48-65 doctor   40-44 lungs     9-10, 60-64

medicine       45-65, 96-98 breathing     9-10

Which two entries would you use to find out more about healthy eating?

good health    80-90 diet    30-40

Which pages would you turn to in order to find out about the bad effects of smoking?

smoking  121-124

On which pages would you find out about hospital life?

hospital        40-44, 48-65

Why do you think there are two ranges of page numbers for lungs?

Because the page is telling us about lungs.

On which pages would you find out more about the healthy effects of sport?

exercise    11-20

sport       15-20

rest      151-155