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Juniors ~ Finding & Evaluating Sources

Why do you need sources? Easy...to support your argument. This is true for the History paper you guys are writing, as well as the Independent Reading essay you are writing for me. A good paper starts with a strong central focus and a sense of purpose. Research is used to provide evidence -- facts, numbers, statistics & examples.

In order to find useful information, and to avoid plagiarism, there are some simple guidelines you must follow. First, you have to know where to look. Students now have far more options than their parents did when they were in school because many magazines and periodicals previously available only in print are now reprinted online. Below are two of the many places you can go to begin your search:
  • InfoTrac gives you access to databases of full-text articles on every topic under the sun. Although this database requires a subscription, you have complete access to everything they have there as a student at River Oaks (type in LDOE for the password).
  • Find Articles collects articles from (mostly popular) periodicals. You can search their database using keywords and print out full text articles.
Print out a copy of each source you find. The printout includes information necessary for citation, and you may find more in the source if you print out the entire thing. Push "format for printing" if available, and avoid cut & paste.

If you are searching using GOOGLE, it is very important to check the reliability of the sources you find there. In general, ask three questions:
  1. Is the source recent?
  2. Is it from a reputable source?
  3. Is the information backed up with research?
Finally, when using sources, CITE them. Use paranthetical citation inside your paper, and include a works cited page at the end. You have examples of both in the handout provided in class. I will discuss specifics on creating your "full" citation for each source, but for now go to Purdue's OWL for examples.
Note that when you use an article found through Find Articles, or any other database, you must include that information in the citation for the source.

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