1. Researching Online Professor Jen Ball

2. INDEX TO RESEARCH SOURCES Reference works General encyclopediasencyclopedias Specialized encyclopedias, dictionaries, bibliographiesencyclopedias Unabridged dictionaries and special dictionaries on languagedictionaries Biographical reference worksBiographical Atlases and gazetteersAtlases Almanacs and yearbooksAlmanacs General booksbooks Periodicals Pamphlets and government publicationsgovernment publications Your own sources Interviews Surveys

3. The World Wide Web Other online sources Electronic mail Discussion lists Web forums and newsgroups Synchronous communication Research Sources (continued)

4. 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. Ways to Refine Keywords

5. 5 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 Web Search Engines

6. 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? Questions for Evaluating Sources

7. Online Sources for Researching TIP –CRAAPCRAAP Clarkson –InternetInternet –Resources for HumanitiesResources for Humanities –Research StrategyResearch Strategy

8. 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?

9. Evaluation of Web documentsHow to interpret the basics 1. Accuracy of Web Documents Who wrote the page and can you contact him or her? What is the purpose of the document and why was it produced? Is this person qualified to write this document? Accuracy Make sure author provides e-mail or a contact address/phone number. Know the distinction between author and Webmaster. 2. Authority of Web Documents Who published the document and is it separate from the "Webmaster?" Check the domain of the document, what institution publishes this document? Does the publisher list his or her qualifications? Authority What credentials are listed for the author(s)? Where is the document published? Check URL domain. 3. Objectivity of Web Documents What goals/objectives does this page meet? How detailed is the information? What opinions (if any) are expressed by the author? Objectivity Determine if page is a mask for advertising; if so information might be biased. View any Web page as you would an infommercial on television. Ask yourself why was this written and for whom? 4. Currency of Web Documents When was it produced? When was it updated? How up-to-date are the links (if any)? Currency How many dead links are on the page? Are the links current or updated regularly? Is the information on the page outdated? 5. Coverage of the Web Documents Are the links (if any) evaluated and do they complement the documents theme? Is it all images or a balance of text and images? Is the information presented cited correctly? Coverage If page requires special software to view the information, how much are you missing if you don ’ t have the software? Is it free, or is there a fee, to obtain the information? Is there an option for text only, or frames, or a suggested browser for better viewing?

10. 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?

11. –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 Information for a Working Bibliography

12. 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

13. –Use verbs that convey information about source authors’ attitudes or approaches. Verbs for Signal Phrases

14. 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? Checklist for Avoiding Plagiarism