1. Research Skills

2. Electronic Sources of Information Search Engines Search Engines Databases Databases Communication Communication Tools Tools

3. Search Engine Google Google Yahoo Yahoo Ask Ask Bing Bing AOL Search AOL Search

4. Search Tips Use keywords instead of natural language Use keywords instead of natural language Try using synonyms Try using synonyms Use quotation marks around search phrases Use quotation marks around search phrases 1. Search to find out if the element mercury is toxic. 2. What is a tiger’s life expectancy?

5. Databases Collections of articles Collections of articles More scholarly or “serious” More scholarly or “serious” Information more reliable Information more reliable Password may be required Password may be required Galileo – “closet” Galileo – “closet”Galileo.usg.edu Scholar.google.com Scholar.google.com

7. CommunicationTools Blogging and microblogging Blogging and microblogging Chat rooms Chat rooms Email Email Be careful about posting any personal information Be careful about posting any personal information

8. Evaluating Websites

9. Why Evaluate Websites? Anyone can publish on the Web Anyone can publish on the Web Many resources are not verified Many resources are not verified Web often used to give a point of view Web often used to give a point of view Mix of Entertainment, Information and Advertising Mix of Entertainment, Information and Advertising Market orientated Market orientated No editors No editors

10. Evaluate Websites in Four Categories: Authority Accuracy Currency Objectivity “On the Internet, no one knows you’re a cat.”

11. Authority What are the author’s qualifications for writing this web page? What are the author’s qualifications for writing this web page? Are the author’s name and credentials listed on the website? Are the author’s name and credentials listed on the website? Is there contact information on the site? Is there contact information on the site? Look for the “About Me” section Look for the “About Me” section

12. Do these pages have authority? Why or why not? (1) A high school student creates a web page on the Spanish-Civil War for his history project. (2) University Chemistry professor writes an article on the development of the Spanish language. (3) Marine biologist writes on the effects of the Gulf Oil Spill. (4) Wikipedia article (5) NYTimes.com

13. Accuracy Can it be found in an encyclopedia? Can it be found in an encyclopedia? Does the author indicate where the information was found? Does the author indicate where the information was found? Is the information free of spelling and grammatical errors? Is the information free of spelling and grammatical errors?

14. Currency Is the information up-to-date? Is the information up-to-date? Is the date of publication available? Is the date of publication available? Is there sufficient information on the topic? Is there sufficient information on the topic? Are there broken links on the page? Are there broken links on the page?

15. Objectivity Does the web page present information without bias? Does the web page present information without bias? Is the information correct and accurate in its representation? Is the information correct and accurate in its representation? Is the author fair and balanced or overly emotional and extreme? Is the author fair and balanced or overly emotional and extreme? Is the website trying to sell you something? Is the website trying to sell you something? Check for affiliation (hate groups, interest groups, or political groups) Check for affiliation (hate groups, interest groups, or political groups)

16. Are these sources objective? Why or why not? (1) Blog on politics during the Civil War. (2) Article written by the CEO of Def Jam Recordings on downloading music illegally. (3) Webpage on Cancer cells written by a doctor.

17. If websites do not meet all four criteria, they are not reliable!

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

19. Examples of Plagiarism Copying and pasting text from online encyclopedias or any web site Copying and pasting text from online encyclopedias or any web site Copying another student’s test or homework Copying another student’s test or homework Using photographs, video or audio without permission Using photographs, video or audio without permission Using another student’s or your parents’ work and claiming it as your own even with permission Using another student’s or your parents’ work and claiming it as your own even with permission Getting a research paper or article from the Internet Getting a research paper or article from the Internet Failing to put a quotation in quotation marks Failing to put a quotation in quotation marks

20. How to Avoid Plagiarism If you have paraphrased someone’s work, (summarizing a passage in your own words) - always give credit If you have paraphrased someone’s work, (summarizing a passage in your own words) - always give credit Take very good notes--write down the source as you are taking notes. Do not wait until later to try and retrieve the original source Take very good notes--write down the source as you are taking notes. Do not wait until later to try and retrieve the original source Avoid using someone else’s work with minor “cosmetic” changes Avoid using someone else’s work with minor “cosmetic” changes

21. Know How to Paraphrase Paraphrasing means putting an idea into your own words. Paraphrasing means putting an idea into your own words. Don’t just rearrange the sentences or replace a few words. Don’t just rearrange the sentences or replace a few words. Be able to summarize the original source without having it in front of you. Be able to summarize the original source without having it in front of you.

22. Original Passage The huge boulder crashed into the car which demolished it. Sample Paraphrasing Paraphrased Text The vehicle was totaled when a large rock smashed into it.

23. Remember, any information you did not know before your research(public knowledge), must be cited as a reference source in your bibliography.

24. Online Bibliography Generator www.bibme.org