IntroductionUsing the 4 R’s to evaluate sourcesTypes of Web pagesTalk About ItYour Turn

Tech Tool in this presentation• Author Search

Evaluating Sources

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.

Introduction

As you research, you have many sources of information to choose from, such as

Introduction

books

newspaper and magazine articles

Web sites

video and audio clips

experts

• whether the source answers your research question

You have to evaluate each source that you find to see if you should use it in your work.

Can I trust this source?This means reading and thinking

carefully about

• how trustworthy your source is

Introduction

The 4 R’s can help you make smart choices that will be useful for your work.

Relevant A source is relevant if it relates to yournarrow 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?

a book called Learning HTML Coding to Create Webpages by Marc Smith

an interview with Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Computers

Using the 4 R’s to evaluate sources

Recent A source is recent if it contains the latestinformation 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 newspaper article from 1999 on video-game design

a Web page titled “YOYO Games, Gamemaker 7.0”

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.

a study on current threats to animal species by an international wildlife organization

Which of the following sources would be more representative for a paper about endangered species?

an advertisement for a big-game hunting safari

Using the 4 R’s to evaluate sources

Reliable A source is reliable if it includes accurateand 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

Using the 4 R’s to evaluate sources

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.

If an e-mail link is provided on the Web site, another option is to send an e-mail to the author to ask for more information about his or her experience and education.

Tech Tool: Author Search

Be polite and explain to the author why you need this information.

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.

Tech Tool: Author Search

Does your search suggest that the Web page author is a recognized expert on your topic?

Examine the results you receive.

Does your search make you think the Web page author might be giving false information?

Here is a funny example about the “dangers” of the chemical DHMO, also known as . . . water, or H2O.

Tech Tool: Author Search

Here are the results of a Google search for Tom Way, the author of the DHMO Web site. Often you can form an opinion by studying the results carefully.

Tech Tool: Author Search

At first the author seems pretty reliable because he’s a professor. When I look more closely, I see that he’s a professor of computer science. I realize that he is probably not the most reliable source of information about chemicals.

Unfortunately, no one checks information for accuracy before it is posted to the Internet.

One common way people find sources is by using the Internet.

Types of Web pages

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 is a reliable source?

How do I know whether this

information is accurate?

There are five basic types of Web pages:

• personal home pages

Types of Web pages

• advocacy pages

• commercial pages

• informational pages

• news pages

http://www.osu.edu/jsmith/http://www.osu.edu/jsmith/

http://www.noise.org/~JSmith/home.htmhttp://www.noise.org/~JSmith/home.htm

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.

Types of Web pages

You’ll usually be able to pick out a personal home page by examining the URL (Web address).

If it contains a tilde (~), a backslash (/), or both, followed by a person’s name, it’s usually a personal home page.

Types of Web pages

This personal home page focuses on a family’s pets and the interests of each family member.

Advocacy Web pages are posted by organizations. They want to give you information about the organization’s beliefs and activities.

Types of Web pages

Keep in mind that some of the information on an advocacy page might be biased—it might represent only one viewpoint.

Commercial Web pages are created to sell products.

Types of Web pages

They use advertising techniques targeted at a specific audience to persuade people to buy what they are selling.

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.

Types of Web pages

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

Types of Web pages

Look at the following Web site and use the presented information to discuss the questions provided.

Talk About It

1.What type of site do you think this is? What are some clues that make you think that?

2.Evaluate the information provided. Do you think this is reliable information? Why or why not?

3.This site was created by teachers for students to use. What lesson do you think they want their students to learn?

Say your research topic is “Characteristics of Labrador Retrievers.”

Your Turn

Use the site to answer the questions on the following slide. Think about whether this site is a good source.

Read some of the information on the American Kennel Club Web page.

1. Is this site relevant? Does it provide specific information about your topic? Why or why not?

2. Is this site reliable? Is it written by experts? How can you tell?

Your Turn

3. Is the site representative? Does it explain different viewpoints about your topic? Why do you think so?

4. Is the information recent? How could you find out?

Your Turn

Your Turn

1. I think this site is/isn’t relevant because:

2. I think this site is/isn’t reliable because:

3. I think this site is/isn’t representative because:

4. I think this site is/isn’t recent because:

The End