Tracking Down Resources for Your Annotated Bibliography!! Choosing the Best Trail To Follow for Research Resources

The Research Process There are four major components of the research process: (1)Understanding Your Topic – What am I learning? (2) Finding Resources for Your Topic – Where is information on my topic (3) Evaluating the information found on your topic – Does this information have authority, accuracy, and is current? (4) Using that information correctly – How do I use this information ethically and correctly to insure that I have not plagiarized?

Understanding Your Topic Understanding your topic and what you want to learn about it is the MOST IMPORTANT STEP in the research project. If you do not understand your topic, you will not be able to find the resources to complete your research project. To understand your assigned research topic, first read it and see if there are any terms or ideas that you are not familiar with. If there are unfamiliar terms or concepts, you will need to locate information about them. Sample Topic: “Discuss the role of naturalism in Steinbeck’s vision of a utopian community” Once you understand what the research topic is asking you to search for then you can begin finding resources for your topic.

Quality Information for Your Topic Keep in mind that any information you may want to use in research project must have the highest levels of quality information’s three components: (1) AUTHORITY – Determined by the author’s credentials (2) ACCURACY – Determined by error and bias checking (3) CURRENCY – Determined by date of information Using information that meets the highest standards of each of these components will insure that you will create a high quality research project. Since you now know you need quality information for an quality research project, let’s discuss finding resources for your topic.

Print and Online Resources

Resource Types for Your Topic When considering whether to use PRINT or ONLINE resources for a research project, most people automatically jump right to online sources and neglect print resources. However, print resource do have some advantages over online sources: (1) Authority, Accuracy, and Currency are guaranteed with reputable publishers. (2) Information can be found quicker and can always be found (3) Information is easier to “pack up and carry with you” and is easier to transcribe onto note cards

Resource Types for Your Topic Online Resources that are found using Yahoo or Google has only one real advantage and that is it can quickly access more information. However, is this a real advantage? Let’s think about it. (1) Information found with Google or Yahoo searches can not guarantee authority, accuracy, or currency. (2) A list of possible resources found with Google or Yahoo are very long and very time consuming to check. (3) Information can be lost due to loss of internet services or computer failure. A subscription database like the Alabama Virtual Library is the only online resource that is similar to print resources in that they have a shorter list of possible resources and the information meets meet authority, accuracy, and currency standards.

Finding Resources for Your Project

Finding Resources for Your Topic There are many places and resources for your topic, but you want to use only those that will have the information you need and can be found and used efficiently. The best places to look for resources are (1) Alabama Virtual Library – aka AVL (2) The Panther Media Center (3) Public or University/College Library {if one is nearby} The next few slides will give information about research resources are available from these places.

AVL: Great Resources for Your Topic The Alabama Virtual Library provides all students, teachers, and citizens of the State of Alabama with online access to essential library and information resources. The Alabama Virtual Library is a GOLDMINE of quality online Information that meets the highest standards of informational authority, accuracy, and currency that can be used to create a top-notch research paper. The AVL can now be accessed from any place in Alabama without a password. The AVL web address is Let’s took a brief tour of the Alabama Virtual LibraryAlabama Virtual Library

Public/College Library Resources for Your Topic If you still need resources, especially print resources, for your research topic, the public libraries of Columbus, Opelika, and Auburn are within reasonable driving distance and have a wide selection of resources. Another place to locate research resources would the colleges and community colleges nearby. These college libraries not only have print resources they also have their own subscription databases which are usually larger than the AVL. However, you will need to know someone who would let you use their college username and password to access any of these colleges’ resources, especially the online resources. Please remember, though, you will need some type of library card to be able to use any of these libraries’ resources.

Evaluating and Correctly Using the Information You Have Located

Evaluating the Information You Have Found Once you have found information that you think might can be used in your research paper, do the following before you write it down and cite it. (1) Read the resource to see if answers the questions you are asking about your topic. (2) Ask yourself does the information meet the standards of authority, accuracy, and currency. (3) Ask if it can be verified in other authoritative sources. (4) Ask if the source can be easily cited.

Using the Information You Found Correctly When you use someone else’s words or ideas in your research project, it is important to give that person credit for that information; otherwise you will be guilty of PLAGIARISM. Plagiarism is done in the three major ways that are listed below: (1)Passing off the ideas/words of another as one’s own words without give credit to the source of the information. (2)Copying so many words or ideas from sources that it makes up the majority of your work, even if these resources are correctly cited. (3)Failing to correctly cite your sources of the information that you are using in your research project. It is VERY important to remember that CHANGING THE WORDS OF AN ORIGNAL SOURCE INTO YOUR OWN WORDS IS NOT SUFFICIENT ENOUGH TO PREVENT PLAGIARISM!

Using the Information You Found Correctly Citations need to be created when the following occurs in your research project: (1) Resource material is directly quoted in your research project (2) Resource material is paraphrased in your research paper (3) A specific reference to another’s work is made Common facts and familiar quotes DO NOT have to be cited, but be sure that these would be common knowledge and familiar to your reader(s)!

Any Questions On Tracking Down Information For Your Research Project?