Research Research SkillsSkills

Electronic Electronic Sources of Sources of

InformationInformationSearch EnginesSearch EnginesDatabasesDatabasesCommunicationCommunication

ToolsTools

Search EngineSearch Engine

GoogleGoogleYahooYahooAskAskBingBingAOL Search AOL Search

Search TipsSearch Tips Use keywords instead of Use keywords instead of

natural language natural language Try using synonymsTry using synonyms Use quotation marks around Use quotation marks around

search phrasessearch phrases

1. Search to find out if the 1. Search to find out if the element mercury is toxic.element mercury is toxic.2. What is a tiger’s life 2. What is a tiger’s life expectancy?expectancy?

DatabasDatabaseses

Collections of Collections of articlesarticlesMore scholarly or More scholarly or

“serious”“serious” Information more reliableInformation more reliablePassword may be Password may be

requiredrequiredGalileo – “closet”Galileo – “closet”

Galileo.usg.eduGalileo.usg.eduScholar.google.comScholar.google.com

Communication Communication ToolsTools

Blogging and Blogging and microbloggingmicroblogging

Chat roomsChat rooms EmailEmail Be careful about Be careful about

posting any posting any personal personal informationinformation

EvaluatingEvaluatingWebsitesWebsites

Why Evaluate Why Evaluate Websites?Websites? Anyone can publish on the WebAnyone can publish on the Web

Many resources are not verifiedMany resources are not verified Web often used to give a point of Web often used to give a point of

viewview Mix of Entertainment, Mix of Entertainment,

Information and AdvertisingInformation and Advertising Market orientatedMarket orientated No editorsNo editors

Evaluate Websites Evaluate Websites in Four Categories:in Four Categories:

•Authority

•Accuracy

•Currency

•Objectivity

“On the Internet, no one knows

you’re a cat.”

AuthorityAuthority What are the author’s What are the author’s

qualifications for writing qualifications for writing this web page?this web page?

Are the author’s name and Are the author’s name and credentials listed on the credentials listed on the website?website?

Is there contact information on Is there contact information on the site?the site?

Look for the “About Me” sectionLook for the “About Me” section

Do these pages have Do these pages have authority? Why or why authority? Why or why

not?not?(1)(1) A high school student creates a web A high school student creates a web

page on the Spanish-Civil War for page on the Spanish-Civil War for his history project.his history project.

(2)(2) University Chemistry professor University Chemistry professor writes an article on the development writes an article on the development of the Spanish language.of the Spanish language.

(3)(3) Marine biologist writes on the Marine biologist writes on the effects of the Gulf Oil Spill.effects of the Gulf Oil Spill.

(4)(4) Wikipedia articleWikipedia article

(5)(5) NYTimes.comNYTimes.com

AccuracyAccuracy Can it be found in an Can it be found in an

encyclopedia?encyclopedia? Does the author indicate Does the author indicate

where the information was where the information was found? found?

Is the information Is the information free of spelling free of spelling and grammatical and grammatical errors? errors?

CurrencyCurrency Is the information Is the information

up-to-date? up-to-date? Is the date of Is the date of

publication available?publication available? Is there sufficient Is there sufficient

information on the topic?information on the topic? Are there broken links on Are there broken links on

the page?the page?

ObjectivityObjectivity Does the web page present information Does the web page present information

without bias?without bias? Is the information correct and accurate in Is the information correct and accurate in

its representation?its representation? Is the author fair and Is the author fair and

balanced or overly balanced or overly emotional and extreme?emotional and extreme?

Is the website trying to Is the website trying to sell you something? sell you something?

Check for affiliation (hate Check for affiliation (hate groups, interest groups, groups, interest groups, or political groups) or political groups)

Are these sources Are these sources objective? Why or objective? Why or

why not?why not?(1)(1)Blog on politics during the Civil Blog on politics during the Civil

War.War.(2)(2)Article written by the CEO of Article written by the CEO of

Def Jam Recordings on Def Jam Recordings on downloading downloading music illegally . music illegally .

(3)(3)Webpage on Webpage on Cancer cells Cancer cells written by a doctor. written by a doctor.

If websites do If websites do not meet all not meet all four criteria, four criteria, they are not they are not

reliable! reliable!

Avoiding Avoiding PlagiarismPlagiarism

I like the writing in I like the writing in that paper. I just that paper. I just wish more of it had wish more of it had been yoursbeen yours..

Examples of PlagiarismExamples of Plagiarism Copying and pasting text from online Copying and pasting text from online

encyclopedias or any web siteencyclopedias or any web site Copying another student’s test or homeworkCopying another student’s test or homework Using photographs, video or audio without Using photographs, video or audio without

permissionpermission Using another student’s or Using another student’s or

your parents’ work and your parents’ work and claiming it as your own claiming it as your own even with permissioneven with permission

Getting a research paper or Getting a research paper or article from the article from the InternetInternet

Failing to put a quotation in Failing to put a quotation in quotation marks quotation marks

How to Avoid PlagiarismHow to Avoid Plagiarism If you have paraphrased If you have paraphrased

someone’s work, (summarizing someone’s work, (summarizing a passage in your own a passage in your own words) - always give creditwords) - always give credit

Take very good notes--write down the Take very good notes--write down the source as you are taking notes. Do not source as you are taking notes. Do not wait until later to try and retrieve the wait until later to try and retrieve the original sourceoriginal source

Avoid using someone else’s work with Avoid using someone else’s work with minor “cosmetic” changesminor “cosmetic” changes

Know How to ParaphraseKnow How to Paraphrase Paraphrasing means putting Paraphrasing means putting

an idea into your own words.an idea into your own words. Don’t just rearrange the Don’t just rearrange the

sentences or replace a few sentences or replace a few words.words.

Be able to summarize the Be able to summarize the original source without having original source without having it in front of you.it in front of you.

Original Passage The huge boulder crashed into the car which demolished it.

Sample ParaphrasingSample Paraphrasing

Paraphrased Text The vehicle was totaled when a large rock smashed into it.

Remember, any Remember, any information you did not information you did not

know before your know before your research(public research(public

knowledge), must be cited knowledge), must be cited as a reference source in as a reference source in

your bibliography.your bibliography.

Online Bibliography Online Bibliography GeneratorGenerator

www.bibme.org