MLA Works Cited Page -- Step by Step

Integrating Sources into Paragraphs

Helpful Links -- Evaluating Internet Sources

This week in class we discussed finding sources for our research.  As a requirement for the class, the students must have at least 3 print sources for their paper.  Though print sources are generally trustworthy (after all, they've spent a lot of money and energy to get the information published and printed), books, articles, etc. will often reveal definite biases; those are important to detect.

The greater challenge is evaluating internet sources.  These days, anyone can be a self-proclaimed expert on anything.  Because they publish their information on a web page, many of us think they must be accurate and dependable.  Not so.  While the internet is a marvelous place in which to find crucial information, it is also the home to misinformation and lies.

I have two blog entries from previous classes with some helpful information:
Evaluating Sources
Finding the Best Sources

Below are some links with good information about choosing good internet sites for your research.  Please read at least one of them before you start doing your internet research.

An article and exercise for evaluating a website
Web hoaxes and misinformation 
Evaluation Criteria from the New Mexico State Library
Article:  How to Spot a Fake Website
Teacher Tap:  Links and Article (bottom half of the page)
Kathy Schrock's guides


Happy Researching!!

Note-taking

How you take notes as you do your research is important.  You shouldn't write down every word you read.  Rather, take down pertinent facts in lists or as bullet points.  Don't copy large portions to quote.  Your paper should be in your own voice.
 
As you read, don't pass over information because you're just not sure whether it will be useful.  This is a very common and costly mistake in research. More often than not, you find that the passed-over tidbit is critical to your paper, and then you won't find it again.

Check out these helpful websites:  the Hunter College Reading and Writing Center and the University of Toronto website and from a Lakewood Library. 

Preparing for an Annotated Bibliography

An annotated bibliography is, in essence, a bibliography with notes regarding the usefulness of the book.  The following information should be collected for each book:

Author and/or editors
Pertinent chapters or sections
Title
Editor, translator, or compiler
Edition or Volume
Name of the series
Place, publisher, and date

Do this for each book as you read it.  It's far too hard to go back later to find this information.

Evaluating a Source

With the myriad of books, articles and web sites available, many writers have a hard time narrowing down their options and determining the value of an individual resource.  To save time, readers need to be selective.  Students should be concerned about Relevancy, Authority, Accuracy, and Currency.


Relevancy:  How well will does the book, etc. fit your topic?
Authority:  Are the credentials reputable?  What kind of research has your source done?
Accuracy:  Do the resources verify their own research?
Currency:  Are the resources recent enough for your topic?

Finding the Best Sources

It will be important for the students to find appropriate resources for their topics.  Their own specific topics will help to determine and dictate the sources they will need.  Current events related papers will require up-to-date information.  Primary and secondary sources are both valuable.  Some resources are more valuable and and reliable.

Imagine an inverted pyramid with the most excellent sources at the top and less authoritative ones at the bottom.  As the students compile their materials, they should carefully select good pieces.

Below is a list in descending order, from best to not-as-good, of types of resources:

Scholarly Books

Biographies

Scholarly Articles

Sponsored web site

Interview

Experiment, Test, Observation

Trade Book

Encyclopedia

Popular Magazine

Newspaper

Listserv Posting

Individual web site

Usenet news group posting

Internet chat conversation

The internet supplies both valuable and "sketchy" information.  Here's a checklist for determining the validity of a website:
1.  The site name will reveal a serious and scholarly emphasis.
2.  The sponsor should be an institution or professional organization.
3.  The home page will reveal the nature and purpose of the site.
4.  Author/Sponsor credentials will confirm the serious nature of the site.
5.  Links to other scholarly sites, not commercial sites, will reflect the serious nature of the site.
6.  E-mail to an author or organization offers a means for a scholarly conversation.

Writing 3 Resources

Dear Parents and Students,

I've had a few questions about the kind of handbook that would be helpful for this class and for the students. I mentioned the books that was using for the class, including the Write for College book (from the Write Source series.) If you have this book already, it's a good resource for the topics concerning writing. However, it doesn't have grammar or mechanics reviews.

I think there are a lot of good resources out there. What I think would be most helpful is a book that includes a good review of grammar, correct formatting for footnotes and bibliographies, and some good priniples about style and organization. I really haven't found a "best" book .... I have a selection of them and home and find them all good and helpful.

Below are some books that I bought today at Half Price Books. If you don't have a book and one of these interests you, let me know. I've included an Amazon link. Writing 3 is my last class on Tuesday, and I can be available for a little while after class.

The Penguin Handbook, Second Edition, 2006 (paperback) for $7.99

MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, Seventh Edition (paperback) for $10.98

The Pocket Wadsworth Handbook, Fourth Ediction (spiral) for $6.99

A Pocket Style Manual, Fifth Edition (spiral) for $9.99

The Scott Foresman for Writers, Seventh Edition (hardcover) for $7.98

The New Century Handbook, Third Edition (hardcover) for $5.48