Researching an Issue Lesson #4

Researching an Issue Your research will likely lead you to both primary and secondary sources. Primary Sources- include historical documents, literary works, eyewitness accounts, field reports, diaries, letters, and lab studies, as well as any original research you do through interviews, observation, experiments, or surveys. Novels, poems Secondary Sources- include scholarly books and articles, reviews, biographies, textbooks, and other works that interpret or discuss primary sources. Articles interpreting novels, poems

Researching an Issue Print and online sources Some sources are available only online or only in print Many print sources are now available on the web You will find print sources in your school’s library, but chances are that many of the books in your library’s reference section will also be available on the Web.

Researching an Issue https://scholar.google.com/ http://www.jstor.org/action/showAdvancedSearch?acc=off&wc=on Media Center Website: http://www.bixbyps.org/BPS->BHS- >MediaCenter

Keeping Track of Your Sources Staple together copies and printouts of print materials. Store website URLs. Label Everything Highlight sections you plant to use. Keep everything in a file.

Evaluating Sources Considering the Reliability of Print and Online Sources Books and journals that have been published in print have most likely been evaluated by editors, publishers, or expert reviewers before publication. Magazines and newspapers have probably been fact- checked; not so most websites- anyone who wishes to post something on the Web can do so. In addition, Web sources come and go and are easily changed. So print sources (including journals available online) are always more stable and often more trustworthy.

Evaluating Sources Think about your purpose. Who is your audience? Is it relevant? What are the author’s credentials? What is the STANCE? Who is the publisher? If it’s a website, who is the sponsor? What is the level? When was it published? Is it available? Does include other useful information?

Evaluating Sources Credibility Accuracy Reliability Relevance Date Scope