Post on 07-Jan-2016
description
HOW TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE GOOD SOURCES AND THE RIGHT SOURCES!
All about Sources
The Types of Sources
Print Books Magazines Encyclopedias Newspapers Anything that is able to be touched and is typed up and
publishedElectronic
Things from databases Often pieces that were once in print, but have been put onto
the web Electronic sources are FOUND on the web, but are
independent of the webInternet
Things that you find when searching from a search engine (google, ask.com, bing, etc.)
Benefits Drawbacks
It takes a lot to get published. This means when something is, it holds more weight or importance.
Stuff in print is easy to track down—for the researcher and for the one reading the research.
It takes a long time to get printed up and once it’s printed it might be pretty old. This means sometimes stuff is out of date right after it gets printed.
Print Sources
Benefits Drawbacks
It’s easy to get your hands on wherever you are. The databases in our library are accessible at home.
It’s sometimes the most current information you can get.
It has the backing of a database/sponsoring organization so it is reputable.
It’s green
Electronic sources are sometimes not accepted as an authority.
Electronic sources can be less detailed than the original work taken from. For example, sometimes pictures or excerpts from a document are omitted in the electronic source.
Electronic Sources
Benefits Drawbacks
Google and other search engines are familiar and easy to use.
You don’t need a special password or library to use the internet.
Anyone can make a webpage, website, or internet document.
You never really know where the information came from.
Sometimes the internet information can change from day to day and the availability can, too.
Internet Sources
Levels of Sources
Primary The information is from the source
Birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates, or other ORIGINAL documents
Creative works like poetry, short story, etc. Relics or Artifacts
Secondary The information is interpreted from the primary source
These sources are one or more steps removed from the primary source.
They may have pieces or pictures of the primary source, but then reflects further.
Criticisms, commentaries, news and magazine articles, etc. are examples
Quality of Sources
Quality means… It is reputable It is reliable It has sources
How do I check for quality? Use the source Evaluation Sheet (A.P.B) Be discriminating
A=Authority
The first step to checking your source is to look at the authority.
The authority is what makes the source credible or what makes the source something to listen to.
Purpose/Intended Audience
The second step is to look at who the source is written for.
Answer the questions to figure out whether or not the source is appropriate for you and your audience.
Bias vs. Objective
The final step is to look carefully at what perspective the source has.
Answer the questions to figure out if the source has an agenda or is the straight story.