1. Research Skills Did You Know?

2. How are you searching now? Google and Ask.com allow you to type natural language search strings, in other words, you type how you talk or ask questions. Example: What is the population of China? Internet Search Strategies

3. Problems with Natural Language Searches Often natural language searches turn up too many or too few results. Often natural language searches turn up too many or too few results. So, what is the best way to search? So, what is the best way to search?

4. Boolean Operators The most effective and efficient way for you to search is to break down your topic into key concepts and include one or more Boolean operators The most effective and efficient way for you to search is to break down your topic into key concepts and include one or more Boolean operators What is a Boolean operator? What is a Boolean operator?

5. Boolean Operators Boolean operators are words that include or remove possible search results. Boolean operators are words that include or remove possible search results. The three Boolean operators are: The three Boolean operators are: ANDORNOT

6. AND Searches AND searches include results that have both search terms Example: tigers AND lions have results that are about both tigers and lions

7. OR Searches OR searches include results with either one or the other search term or both Example: tigers OR lions would include results that were either about lions or tigers or possibly both. You will find MORE results using an OR search.

8. Quotation Marks Another good way to narrow your results is to put quotation marks around your search phrase Another good way to narrow your results is to put quotation marks around your search phrase The results will be hits with that exact phrase The results will be hits with that exact phrase Example: “tiger life expectancy” Example: “tiger life expectancy”

9. Evaluating Websites

10. 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 No editors No editors Web often used to give a point of view Web often used to give a point of view Market orientated Market orientated Mix of entertainment, information and advertising Mix of entertainment, information and advertising

11. Evaluate Websites Using the CRAAP test Currency Relevance Authority Accuracy Purpose

12. Currency The timeliness of the information. 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?

13. Relevance The importance of the information for your needs Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question? Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question? Who is the intended audience? Who is the intended audience? Is the information at an appropriate level (i.e. not too elementary)? Is the information at an appropriate level (i.e. not too elementary)? Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this is the one you will use? Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this is the one you will use?

14. Authority The source of the information. 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? Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source? examples:.com.edu.gov.org.net Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source? examples:.com.edu.gov.org.net

15. Accuracy The reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the content Can it be verified in an encyclopedia? Can it be verified in an encyclopedia? Is it relevant to your topic? Is it relevant to your topic? Does the author indicate where he found the information? Does the author indicate where he found the information? Is the information free of spelling and grammatical errors? Is the information free of spelling and grammatical errors?

16. Purpose The reason the information exists What is the purpose of the information? to inform? teach? sell? entertain? persuade? What is the purpose of the information? to inform? teach? sell? entertain? persuade? Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear? Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear? Is the information fact? opinion? Is the information fact? opinion? Does the point of view appear objective and impartial? Does the point of view appear objective and impartial? Are there political, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases? Are there political, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases?

17. Evaluate these Websites Sea Turtles Sea Turtles Sea Turtles Sea Turtles Google Technology Google Technology Google Technology Google Technology Fiber Optic Products Fiber Optic Products Fiber Optic Products Fiber Optic Products First Genetics First Genetics First Genetics First Genetics Mars Mars Mars AIDS Facts AIDS Facts AIDS Facts AIDS Facts Dog Island Dog Island Dog Island Dog Island NASA Spaceflight NASA Spaceflight NASA Spaceflight NASA Spaceflight

18. Citations Make sure you keep track of websites you visit so you will be able to complete your bibliography Make sure you keep track of websites you visit so you will be able to complete your bibliography It is helpful to open a Word document to copy and paste your sites to as you are searching It is helpful to open a Word document to copy and paste your sites to as you are searching If you use information from a site without giving proper credit to the author, you are plagiarizing If you use information from a site without giving proper credit to the author, you are plagiarizing

19. Plagiarism 0 The act of passing off as one' own the ideas or writings of another

20. 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 or acknowledgment Using photographs, video or audio without permission or acknowledgment 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, story, poem, or article off the Internet Getting a research paper, story, poem, or article off the Internet

21. It’s okay if I don’t get caught! I was too busy to write that paper! (getting my hair done, big game, too much homework!) My teachers expect too much! I’ve got to get into Top-Notch College! My parents want me to get “A”s! This assignment was BORING! Everyone does it! Excuses

22. Why is this important? – Your architect cheated his way through design class? Will your new home be safe? – Your doctor cheated his way through surgical techniques class? Would he remove your appendix or spleen? – Your check out clerk cheated in math class? Will he give you the right change from your purchase? What if:

23. 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

24. 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.

25. Original Passage He was a very silent man by custom. Paraphrased Text He was usually a quiet person. Is This Plagiarism?

26. Original Passage At the start of the Great Depression, many Americans wanted to believe that the hard times would be only temporary. Paraphrased Text At the beginning of the Great Depression, a lot of Americans wanted to think that the hard times would be only temporary.

27. Original Passage At the start of the Great Depression, many Americans wanted to believe that the hard times would be only temporary. Correct Paraphrasing The American people were hopeful the difficult times felt at the beginning of the Great Depression would not last.

28. Paraphrase the Sentences The adolescent maneuvered the bi- wheeled vehicle undamaged. In the metropolis the recreational area was dilapidated. The educator removed the unruly student from the environment.

29. Creating a Bibliography Using an Online Citation Generator www.bibme.org