Finding RELIABLE Sources

Transcription

1 Finding RELIABLE Sources What is a reliable source? * accurate * trustworthy * appropriate

2 Introduction How is writing a research paper like being a judge? You have to judge each possible source of content to see if it contains information that is good to use in your paper.

3 Introduction You have to evaluate each source that you find to see if you should use it in your work. This means reading and thinking carefully about how trustworthy your source is whether the source answers your research question The 4 R s can help you make smart choices that will be useful for your work. Can I trust this source?

4 Using the 4 R s to evaluate sources Relevant A source is relevant if it relates to your narrow topic. It provides specific information that answers your research question. If your topic is about the first home computer, which of these sources would be more relevant? an book interview called with Learning Steve HTML Jobs, Coding co-founder to Create of Apple Webpages by Computers Marc Smith an interview with Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Computers

5 Using the 4 R s to evaluate sources Recent A source is recent if it contains the latest information about a topic. Even if you are researching an event from history, you still need the most current information available. If you want to write about how new video games are created, which would be a better source? a Web page titled YOYO Games, Gamemaker 7.0 a newspaper article from 1999 on video-game design

6 Using the 4 R s to evaluate sources Representative A source is representative if it explains different viewpoints on a controversial topic. You never want to present only one side of an argument in your work. Which of the following sources would be more representative for a paper about endangered species? a study on current threats to animal species by an international wildlife organization an advertisement for a big-game hunting safari

7 Using the 4 R s to evaluate sources Reliable A source is reliable if it includes accurate and objective information. To find accurate information, look for well-respected publishers or authors who are experts in their field. For information on acne treatments, which source is likely to be more reliable? a Web page created by a dermatologist, a doctor who treats skin problems a commercial for the newest product that claims to prevent acne

8 Tech Tool: Author Search You might need to find out more information about the author of a Web site to know if he or she qualifies as an expert. There are several ways to do this. Look on the Web site. Sometimes Web pages offer more information about the author. Look for headings or links such as About and Who Am I? or click the Home button.

9 Tech Tool: Author Search Another way to find information about a Web page s author is to enter the author s name into a search engine, putting the name in quotation marks. This will help you determine how the author is viewed on other Web sites. Examine the results you receive. Does your search suggest that the Web page author is a recognized expert on your topic? Does your search make you think the Web page author might be giving false information?

10 Types of Web pages One common way people find sources is by using the Internet. Unfortunately, no one checks information for accuracy before it is posted to the Internet. How do I know whether this is a reliable source? When you are trying to decide whether a Web page is reliable, it helps to know what type of page you are viewing. How do I know whether this information is accurate?

11 Types of Web pages There are five basic types of Web pages: personal home pages advocacy pages commercial pages informational pages news pages

12 Types of Web pages Anyone can create a personal home page. They are used for many purposes, such as sharing family pictures or giving information about the author s favorite charity.

13 Types of Web pages This personal home page focuses on a family s pets and the interests of each family member.

14 Types of Web pages Advocacy Web pages are posted by organizations. They want to give you information about the organization s beliefs and activities. Keep in mind that some of the information on an advocacy page might be biased it might represent only one viewpoint.

15 Types of Web pages Commercial Web pages are created to sell products. They use advertising techniques targeted at a specific audience to persuade people to buy what they are selling.

16 Types of Web pages Informational Web pages are created to provide information for users. Many informational sites are published by universities or the government. Look for.edu or.gov in the URL.

17 Types of Web pages News Web pages are created to provide up-to-theminute coverage of current events. They are provided by media sources such as newspapers, magazines, and television networks.

18 Research Tip Reading carefully You can find accurate and reliable information on any of the five types of Web pages. However, when you conduct research, you will usually use informational and news Web pages. Even these Web sites are not guaranteed to be free from error or bias, though. Always read the content carefully to make wise decisions.

19 Research Tip The Internet The Internet is a good source of information. It contains more good information than false information. However, you need to be cautious so you can recognize when you are being misled. If you read and think carefully, you ll be able to judge whether the information provided is correct.

20 Keeping Track of Your Sources

21 Introduction Ever hear the expression like finding a needle in a haystack? Finding any one book, article, or Web site in the millions of information resources can be next to impossible if you don t know where to look.

22 Introduction You will want to keep track of the sources you use in your research for two main reasons: As you write, you might need to go back to a source to check your information. Other people might want to see the sources that you use in your research.

23 Making a source list It takes time to find good sources of information. When you find a valuable source, you should record information about it so that you can find it again if necessary. Where did I get this information? Otherwise, you ll find yourself frustrated like this student, who needs to return to one of her sources but can t remember where she found it.

24 Making a source list For a Web site, you need the author s name, the title of the Web page, the date it was published or last updated, the medium of publication (Web), and the date you viewed it. You might want to record the URL too. Hoadley, Rick. How Do Magnets Work? Magnet Man. 16 Sept Web. 28 June 2008.

25 Tech Tool: EasyBib Don t you wish you had a tool to make creating your Works Cited list easier? EasyBib is a free online tool that will do just that!

26 Tech Tool: EasyBib To use EasyBib, choose the type of source you are using and whether it is a print or online source. Then fill in the blanks with the information about your source. EasyBib will create your citation in MLA format. Camp, Vic. How Volcanoes Work. Department of Geological Sciences. San Diego State University. 31 Mar Web. 30 June 2008.

27 Taking Notes from Sources

28 Introduction Derrel has a narrow research topic... Topic: communication between dolphins and human beings and an effective research question. How do dolphins communicate with human beings?

29 Introduction He has located valid sources of information. What s next? Dolphin Tribe: Remembering the Human-Dolphin Connection, by Ashleea Nielsen He s even created a source list. 1) Nielsen, Ashleea. Dolphin Tribe: Remembering the! Human-Dolphin Connection. 2nd ed. Maui:! Dancing Dolphin Press, Print.

30 Introduction Derrel is ready to take notes from his sources. This is a very important step in the research process. He will: search for information that answers his research question write down information he doesn t want to forget take notes in his own words, whenever possible organize his work by labeling each note with a source number

31 Taking notes By this point in the research process, you have already found several good sources of information. Now it s time to read each source and look for information that answers your research question. Because you can t remember everything you read, you will take notes on any information you think might be useful.

32 Taking notes What should you write down? You are looking for facts statistics examples quotations that answer your research question. Fact: a statement that can be proven to be true Bottlenose dolphins live in groups called pods. Statistic: information in number form At least 2,700 bottlenose dolphins are in captivity.

33 Taking notes Example: a specific illustration of a general idea When hunting, dolphins cooperate by herding the fish or taking turns charging through them. Quotation: someone else s exact words It is the dolphin s birthright to swim in a straight line in the ocean as far as its heart desires. Ric O Barry

34 Taking notes As you consider the information you find in your sources, keep these questions in mind: Does this information help answer my research question? Would this information help my reader understand my topic? If the answer to either of these questions is yes, you should take notes on that information.

35 Research Tip Taking notes You will need to be able to tell which source each of your notes comes from. Number each note with the number of its source from your source list. 1 Dolphins use marine sponges to hunt. Daughters are taught the art of hunting with sponges by their mothers.!!!!!!! pgs Owens, James. Dolphin Moms Teach Daughters to Use! Tools. National Geographic News 07 June ! Web. 25 July Include the number of the page where you found the information, if appropriate.

36 Taking notes There are three basic ways to take notes. Use all three as you get information from your sources. Summarizing means stating just the author s most important ideas in your own words. Paraphrasing means stating all of the author s ideas (both main ideas and details) in your own words. Using a direct quotation means using an author s exact words within quotation marks.

37 Summarizing information Summarizing is a very important research skill. Follow these rules to summarize information from a source: Use only the author s most important ideas. Put the ideas in your own words. Do not use the author s words. Make your summary only about one-third as long as the original.

38 Summarizing information Below is a section from an article on dolphin behavior. On the next slide, you will see this information summarized.

39 Summarizing information Is this a good summary of the passage? Why or why not? Dolphins are mammals, like you are. They breathe air and they talk to each other. Sometimes they sound like they are having a conversation with each other at a party, answering each other or all talking at once. They use nonverbal communication, too, like jaw claps, bubble blowing, and fin caressing. author s words unimportant details author s words

40 Summarizing information What about this summary? In what ways is it different from the first summary? Dolphins are members of the mammal family, just like humans. Dolphins breathe air, communicate verbally and nonverbally, and live in groups, just like people. student s own words author s most important ideas only about 1/3 as long as original

41 Paraphrasing information Paraphrasing is another skill you will use often in research. Here are the rules for paraphrasing a source: Include both main ideas and details from the original source. Put the ideas and details in your own words give your own explanation of what the author says. If you use any of the author s words, put them in quotation marks. Make your paraphrase about the same length as the original.

42 Paraphrasing information Here is more information on dolphins. You ll see this passage paraphrased on the next slide. Thinking Dolphin Scientists think dolphins talk about everything from basic facts like their age to their emotional state. I speculate that they say things like, there are some good fish over here, or watch out for that shark because he s hunting, says Denise Herzing, who studies dolphins in the Bahamas. When the going gets tough, for instance, some dolphins call for backup. After being bullied by a duo of bottlenose dolphins, one spotted dolphin returned to the scene the next day with a few pals to chase and harass one of the bully bottlenose dolphins. It s as if the spotted dolphin communicated to his buddies that he needed their help, then led them in search of this guy, says Herzing, who watched the scuffle.

43 Paraphrasing information Is this a good paraphrase of the passage? Why? Scientists aren t sure what dolphins talk about. They think that sometimes they may be calling for backup when they chatter with other dolphins. gives main idea, but leaves out supporting details uses the author s exact words without quotation marks not nearly as long as the original

44 Paraphrasing information Here is another paraphrase. Is this one good? Why or why not? Dolphins could be communicating about their feelings, planning their fishing strategy, or warning each other about possible dangers. Scientists aren t quite sure. One scientist who works in the Bahamas, Denise Herzing, described an incident in which a dolphin who was being bullied returned with some friends the next day. She believes that dolphins may call for backup to others in the pod. It s as if the spotted dolphin communicated to his buddies that he needed their help, she says. includes the main ideas and details from the passage uses student s own words uses the author s exact words in quotation marks

45 Using direct quotations When you use an author s exact words in your own work, you are making a direct quotation. Here are some guidelines for using direct quotations: Quote the author directly only when his or her words communicate a powerful point. Put quotation marks around each direct quotation. Don t overuse direct quotations. Less than ten percent of your research project should be direct quotations from your sources.

46 Here is an example of a source a student is planning to use: Social Behavior Using direct quotations Dolphins in a pod appear to establish strong social bonds. Behavioral studies suggest that certain animals prefer association with each other and recognize each other after periods of separation. Mother-calf bonds are long-lasting; a calf typically stays with its mother three to six years or more. Adult male pair bonds are strong and long-lasting. Next you ll see some examples of quotations from this passage.

47 Using direct quotations Is this an effective way to quote a portion of the source? Dolphins in a pod appear to establish strong social bonds. Scientists have found that certain animals prefer to be together and recognize each other after they have been separated. Mother-calf bonds are long lasting; a calf typically stays with its mother three to six years or more. the quotation is not a powerful point author s words, not student s own words quotations are overused

48 Using direct quotations Is this an effective direct quotation? When studying how dolphins bond, scientists have found that some dolphins prefer association with each other and recognize each other after periods of separation. Mothers and their calves may stay together for up to six years. quotation communicates a powerful point student didn t overuse quotations

49 ! Create a note by summarizing information from the source.

50 ! Create a note by paraphrasing some information from the source.

51 ! Create a note with a direct quotation from the author.