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Discover an extensive array of online research sources, from general and specialized encyclopedias to periodicals, almanacs, and bibliographies. This guide provides essential strategies for refining your search keywords, evaluating the reliability and relevance of sources, and navigating popular web search engines. Learn about effective online research techniques with questions to consider when assessing web content, discussions, and bibliographies. Equip yourself with the tools needed to access high-quality information for your research projects.
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Researching Online Professor Jen Ball
INDEX TO RESEARCH SOURCES • Reference works • General encyclopedias • Specialized encyclopedias, dictionaries, bibliographies • Unabridged dictionaries and special dictionaries on language • Biographicalreference works • Atlases and gazetteers • Almanacs and yearbooks • General books • Periodicals • Pamphlets and government publications • Your own sources • Interviews • Surveys
The World Wide Web Other online sources Electronic mail Discussion lists Web forums and newsgroups Synchronous communication Research Sources (continued)
Ways to Refine Keywords • Use and or + to narrow the search. • Includes only sources that use all given words • Use not or – to narrow the search. • Excludes irrelevant words • Use or to broaden the search. • Giving alternative keywords • Use parentheses or quotation marks to form search phrases. • Use near to narrow the search. • Requires the keywords to be close to each other • Use wild cards to permit difference versions of the same word. • Spell keywords correctly.
Web Search Engines • Directories that review sites • BUBL link: http://bubl.ac.uk.link • Internet Public Library: http://www.ipl.org/div/subject • Internet Scout Project: http://scout.wisc.edu./archives • Librarians’ Index to the Internet: http://lii.org • Most advanced and efficient engines • AlltheWeb: http://alltheweb.com • Google: http://www.google.com • Other engines • AltaVista: http://www.altavista.com • Ask Jeeves: http://www.ask.com • Dogpile: http://www.dogpile.com
Questions forEvaluating Sources • Relevance • Does the source devote some attention to your subject? • Is the source appropriately specialized for your needs? • Is the source up to date enough for your subject? • Reliability • Where does the source come from? • Is the author an expert in the field? • What is the author’s bias? • Is the source fair and reasonable? • Is the source well written?
Online Sources for Researching • TIP • CRAAP • Clarkson • Internet • Resources for Humanities • Research Strategy
QUESTIONS FOR EVALUATING WEB SITES • What does the URL lead you to expect from about the site? • Who is the author or sponsor? • What is the purpose of the site? • What does context tell you? • What does presentation tell you? • How worthwhile is the content?
QUESTIONS FOR EVALUATING ONLINE DISCUSSIONS • Who is the author? • What is the context of the message? • How worthwhile is the content? • How does the message compare with other sources?
Information for a Working Bibliography • Name(s) of author(s) • Title and subtitle • Publication data for books and articles • Date of release, online posting, or latest revision • Medium (online, CD-ROM, etc.) • Format of online source (Web site, Web page, e-mail, etc. • Date you consulted the source • Complete electronic address • For source obtained through a subscription service • Name of database, service and address
The author’s original satisfies one of these requirements: The language is unusually bold or inventive. The quotation cannot be paraphrased without distortion or loss of meaning. The author’s words are at issue in your interpretation The quotation represents a body of opinion or the view of an important expert. The quotation emphatically reinforces your own idea. The quotation is a graph, diagram, or table. The quotation is as short as possible: It includes only material relevant to your point. It is edited to eliminate examples and other unneeded material. Tests for Direct Quotations from Secondary Sources
Verbs for Signal Phrases • Use verbs that convey information about source authors’ attitudes or approaches.
Checklist for Avoiding Plagiarism The Web • Have you obtained any necessary permission to use someone else’s material on your Web site? Source citations • Have you acknowledged every use of someone else’s material in the place where you use it? • Does your list of works cited include all the sources you have used?