we’re doing what!?

WE’RE DOING WHAT!?Writing a Research Paper

How to Find SourcesThere are a myriad of sources you can use:

• Books• Magazines• Online articles from databases• Websites

But which ones are the best, and where do I find them?

Web Search• A good place to start• Let’s you know WHAT EXACTLY you should be looking

for• Even better is scholarly searches

• Google Scholar• www.sweetsearch.com

Books• Are a great way to start• Portable • Reliable because they were edited and rechecked• Unreliable because they might be out of date

Books• How do I find them?• Destiny Catalogue in the library

Finding the Books – Call Numbers

Magazines• Sometimes can be difficult to find• Try online• Very good source because it is both edited and revised and

current• Be sure that the content is academic!

• http://www.popularmechanics.com/• http://www.popsci.com/• http://www.nature.com/nature/index.html• http://www.sciencemag.org/• http://www.sciencenews.org/• http://www.mosaicsciencemagazine.org/index.php?

mode=zoom&searchString=electromagnetic%20spectrum

Online Articles From Databases• Sources of good scholarly information• Many different publications, sorted by topic

Passwords for the Online Databases• Florida Electronic Library---URL http

://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/fl_claycntydist OR www.fleibrary.org

• Password –student

• Grolier---username-oakleafhs•               Password-grolier

• Teaching Books –URL: http://teachingbooks.net/home•                                Password:  ClayCounty•  

Is It a Good Source?• Is there a specific author? Does that author have

credentials?• Who is the owner of the site—the producer of the content?

Does that owner have anything to gain from you using the site?• advertising links• potential purchase

• Is the information consistent with book sources?• Is there a prejudice or bias that is readily apparent?

• advocacy or hate group• Does the site have a professional, reputable appearance?

no flashy ads or pop ups• no malicious links

Is It a Good Source?• As a class, use your criteria to judge if this is a good

source.

• http://animal.discovery.com/guides/endangered/invertebrates/fanshell.html

• http://www.zapatopi.net/treeoctopus/

Is It a Good Source?• With your group, look at the 2 online resources provided. • Use the criteria to discern if this is a good source.

I Have Source, Now What?• Cite them!

WHAT NOT TO DO• Use wikepedia as a source.• Cite “Google” as a source – cite the actual page• PLAGARIZE (copy the source word for word)• Quote everything• Wait until the last minute• Write information down, but not write down which source

or WHICH PAGE it came from