Scioly.org

Mimsie wrote:A good thing that I've learned from over the years on binder events is to make a binder and then go through EVERY SINGLE genus/species on the list and literally type up an information page from scratch for each. It takes forever but it pays off, not to mention it really helps you with your identification.

Yeah. You should NEVER just copy and paste paragraphs. Not only does that make it hard to read and find information, you're not learning much by doing it. If you type it out yourself and organize it, you'll be able to find information much faster, and you'll learn some stuff while your typing it.

All the way with you. If you are using a guide, you can also learn a lot from tabbing it too. The binder, however, is your biggest resource and largest study material.

gneissisnice wrote:

Mimsie wrote:A good thing that I've learned from over the years on binder events is to make a binder and then go through EVERY SINGLE genus/species on the list and literally type up an information page from scratch for each. It takes forever but it pays off, not to mention it really helps you with your identification.

Yeah. You should NEVER just copy and paste paragraphs. Not only does that make it hard to read and find information, you're not learning much by doing it. If you type it out yourself and organize it, you'll be able to find information much faster, and you'll learn some stuff while your typing it.

Which guide is better? Audubon or Smithsonian? I have Smithsonian, but just recently found out that it doesn't have all the specimen's that are on the fossils' list.

Look at the bottom part of my signature. Then follow its instructions to guide you to your answer.

cycloneslover wrote:Which guide is better? Audubon or Smithsonian? I have Smithsonian, but just recently found out that it doesn't have all the specimen's that are on the fossils' list.

cycloneslover wrote:Which guide is better? Audubon or Smithsonian? I have Smithsonian, but just recently found out that it doesn't have all the specimen's that are on the fossils' list.

Depends on the person. I like the Smithsonian because it's pretty detailed on range, classification, and time period. It also has a lot of general info. At the same time, it doesn't have every genus (especially for dinosaurs). I haven't had too much experience with the Audubon, so I can't say much there. Check the Wiki- I think it has some information on the different guides, but that might have been Ornithology. I can't remember.

It is in the Wiki, and it's right http://scioly.org/wiki/Fossils#Choosing_a_Guide.

cycloneslover wrote:Which guide is better? Audubon or Smithsonian? I have Smithsonian, but just recently found out that it doesn't have all the specimen's that are on the fossils' list.

like many people have said before it just depends on the person reading the book every one has own opinion I don’t use either of them, my advice if you can is to get both see what one works better for you and go from there. Remember that you can add notes, pages to your fossil guide too. This is big I don’t think too many people take full advantage of how much manipulation of the field guide is allowed, I wish I could find a large field guide to use so I could have more room to add information or other notes which is allowed by the rules. So if done correctly the field guide can be equal or better that the folders that people make.

Because I buy the books I use for this event I cut out the pages of stuff that is not needed. This year I thought of just copying and pasted pages from other books over the bad pages of my field guide I use. So that I can make another book for my partner to use

I'm in agreement with packer-backer91. Buy the Audubon for your primary guide. Then cut the pages out of the Smithsonian that you need. Put these in your binder.

packer-backer91 wrote:

cycloneslover wrote:Which guide is better? Audubon or Smithsonian? I have Smithsonian, but just recently found out that it doesn't have all the specimen's that are on the fossils' list.

like many people have said before it just depends on the person reading the book every one has own opinion I don’t use either of them, my advice if you can is to get both see what one works better for you and go from there. Remember that you can add notes, pages to your fossil guide too. This is big I don’t think too many people take full advantage of how much manipulation of the field guide is allowed, I wish I could find a large field guide to use so I could have more room to add information or other notes which is allowed by the rules. So if done correctly the field guide can be equal or better that the folders that people make.

Because I buy the books I use for this event I cut out the pages of stuff that is not needed. This year I thought of just copying and pasted pages from other books over the bad pages of my field guide I use. So that I can make another book for my partner to use

without wrote:Look at the bottom part of my signature. Then follow its instructions to guide you to your answer.

cycloneslover wrote:Which guide is better? Audubon or Smithsonian? I have Smithsonian, but just recently found out that it doesn't have all the specimen's that are on the fossils' list.

Well. when I don't have a life, I'll be sure to sit down and read the WHOLE forum. But right now, I do have a life, and don't FEEL like wasting my time by reading stuff I don't want to read and don't HAVE to read. You can read it and tell me what it says, how's that?!

cycloneslover wrote: Well. when I don't have a life, I'll be sure to sit down and read the WHOLE forum. But right now, I do have a life, and don't FEEL like wasting my time by reading stuff I don't want to read and don't HAVE to read. You can read it and tell me what it says, how's that?!

No need to get so defensive.

Oh, and a tip: use the search box to look for keyword in posts, so you don't have to read through the entire forum.

Choosing a Guide
There are 3 main fossil guides used for this event, They are Simon and Schuster's Guide to Fossils, National Audubon Guide To North American Fossils, and Eyewitness Handbook: Fossils (also called Smithsonian Guide to Fossils). Here is my humble option on the books. Simon & Schuster's Guide: Good info but it's organized awkwardly and is VERY hit and miss on the fossils (more miss then hit). National Audobon: Very good info,has everything you need wen it comes to ID, buts its EXTREMELY bulky, and there's a lot of flipping back and forth. Smithsonian: Good straight forward info (something the other two don't have, but it doesn't have all the samples. If you where buying one I would recommend buying in this order.

1) Audubon: It has almost all invertebrates on the list, that automatically puts it first, thought I think it is i bit bulky for these purposes.

2) Smithsonian: I recommend this book because it's really straight forward, not very bulky, but the only thing wrong is that it doesn't have all the specimen's on the fossils list. "The fossils rules recommended you use it and so do I," says GGuy5.

3) Simon and Schuster's: It's ok... it doesn't have many of the samples, but what is does have is great because its the only guide of the three here that has information on dinosaurs.

Here is the info you wanted. from the wiki.