Tips for Tips for Writing Writing

Research Research PapersPapers

EvaluatingEvaluatingWebsitesWebsites

Why Evaluate Why Evaluate Websites?Websites?

Anyone can publish on the WebAnyone can publish on the Web Many resources are not verifiedMany resources are not verified No editorsNo editors Web often used to give a point of Web often used to give a point of

viewview Market orientatedMarket orientated Mix of entertainment, Mix of entertainment,

information and advertisinginformation and advertising

Evaluate Websites Evaluate Websites Using the CRAAP Using the CRAAP

testtest•Currency

•Relevance

•Authority

•Accuracy

•Purpose

CurrencyCurrencyThe timeliness of the The timeliness of the

informationinformation. .

Is the information up-to-date?Is the information up-to-date? Is the date of publication Is the date of publication

available?available? Is there sufficient information Is there sufficient information

on the topic?on the topic? Are there broken links on the Are there broken links on the

page?page?

RelevanceRelevanceThe importance of the The importance of the

information for your needsinformation for your needs Does the information relate to your Does the information relate to your

topic or answer your question? topic or answer your question? Who is the intended audience? Who is the intended audience? Is the information at an appropriate Is the information at an appropriate

level (i.e. not too elementary or level (i.e. not too elementary or advanced for your needs)? advanced for your needs)?

Have you looked at a variety of Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this is sources before determining this is one you will use? one you will use?

Would you be comfortable using this Would you be comfortable using this source for a research paper? source for a research paper?

AuthorityAuthorityThe source of the The source of the

information.information. What are the author’s qualifications What are the author’s qualifications

for writing this web page?for writing this web page? Are the author’s name and Are the author’s name and

credentials listed on the website?credentials listed on the website? Is there contact information on the Is there contact information on the

site?site? Does the URL reveal anything about Does the URL reveal anything about

the author or source?the author or source?          examples: .com .edu .gov .org .netexamples: .com .edu .gov .org .net

AccuracyAccuracyThe reliability, The reliability,

truthfulness, and truthfulness, and correctness of the contentcorrectness of the content Can it be verified in an Can it be verified in an

encyclopedia?encyclopedia? Is it relevant to your topic?Is it relevant to your topic? Does the author indicate where Does the author indicate where

he found the information?he found the information? Is the information free of Is the information free of

spelling and grammatical errors?spelling and grammatical errors?

PurposePurposeThe reason the information The reason the information

existsexists What is the purpose of the What is the purpose of the

information? to inform? teach? sell? information? to inform? teach? sell? entertain? persuade? entertain? persuade?

Do the authors/sponsors make their Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear? intentions or purpose clear?

Is the information fact? opinion? Is the information fact? opinion? Does the point of view appear Does the point of view appear

objective and impartial? objective and impartial? Are there political, cultural, religious, Are there political, cultural, religious,

institutional, or personal biases?institutional, or personal biases?

DestinyDestinyhttp://destiny.bullochttp://destiny.bulloch.k12.ga.ush.k12.ga.usWJMS online catalog WJMS online catalog

allows you to look for allows you to look for books related to your books related to your

topic and will give topic and will give you reliable websitesyou reliable websites

GalileoGalileowww.galileo.usg.eduwww.galileo.usg.edu

State funded list of State funded list of reliable databasesreliable databases

Password this quarter is Password this quarter is rowdyrowdy

Select the Teens tab for Select the Teens tab for searchessearches

Avoiding Avoiding Plagiarism Plagiarism

PlagiarismPlagiarism

the act of the act of passing off as passing off as one's own the one's own the ideas or writings ideas or writings of anotherof another

Examples of PlagiarismExamples of Plagiarism Copying and pasting text from online Copying and pasting text from online

encyclopedias or any web siteencyclopedias or any web site Copying another student’s test or Copying another student’s test or

homeworkhomework Using photographs, video or audio Using photographs, video or audio

without permission or acknowledgementwithout permission or acknowledgement Using another student’s or your parents’ Using another student’s or your parents’

work and claiming it as your own work and claiming it as your own even even with permissionwith permission

Getting a research paper, story, poem, Getting a research paper, story, poem, or article off the Internetor article off the Internet

Failing to put a quote in quotation Failing to put a quote in quotation marksmarks

It’s okay if I don’t get caught!

I was too busy to write that paper!

(getting my hair done, big game, too much homework!)My teachers

expect too much!

I’ve got to get into

??? U.!

My parents expect “A”s!

This assignment was BORING!

Everyone does it!

Excuses

Why is this important?Why is this important?

Your architect cheated his way Your architect cheated his way through design class? Will your new through design class? Will your new home be safe?home be safe?

Your doctor cheated his way through Your doctor cheated his way through surgical techniques class? Would he surgical techniques class? Would he remove your appendix or spleen? remove your appendix or spleen?

Your check out clerk cheated in Your check out clerk cheated in math class? Will he give you the math class? Will he give you the right change from your purchase?right change from your purchase?

What What if:if:

How to Avoid PlagiarismHow to Avoid Plagiarism

If you have paraphrased someone’s If you have paraphrased someone’s work, (summarizing a passage in work, (summarizing a passage in your own words)-always give credityour own words)-always give credit

Take very good notes--write down the Take very good notes--write down the source as you are taking notes. Do source as you are taking notes. Do not wait until later to try and retrieve not wait until later to try and retrieve the original sourcethe original source

Avoid using someone else’s work with Avoid using someone else’s work with minor “cosmetic” changesminor “cosmetic” changes

Know How to ParaphraseKnow How to Paraphrase

Paraphrasing means putting Paraphrasing means putting an idea into your own words.an idea into your own words.

Don’t just rearrange the Don’t just rearrange the sentences or replace a few sentences or replace a few words.words.

Be able to summarize the Be able to summarize the original source without original source without having it in front of you.having it in front of you.

Is This Plagiarism?Is This Plagiarism?Original TextOriginal TextStudents frequently overuse direct Students frequently overuse direct

quotation in taking notes, and as quotation in taking notes, and as a result they overuse quotations a result they overuse quotations in the final research paper.in the final research paper.

Paraphrased TextParaphrased TextStudents often use too many direct Students often use too many direct

quotations when they take notes, quotations when they take notes, resulting in too many quotes in resulting in too many quotes in the final research paper.the final research paper.

Correct Way to Correct Way to ParaphraseParaphrase

Original TextOriginal Text

Students frequently overuse direct Students frequently overuse direct quotation in taking notes, and as a quotation in taking notes, and as a result they overuse quotations in the result they overuse quotations in the final research paper.final research paper.

Correct ParaphrasingCorrect Paraphrasing

Students should take just a few notes Students should take just a few notes as direct quotations from sources to as direct quotations from sources to help cut down the amount of quotes help cut down the amount of quotes in a research paper.in a research paper.

Original Passage At the start of the Great Depression, many Americans wanted to believe that the hard times would be only temporary. Paraphrased TextAt the beginning of the Great Depression, a lot of Americans wanted to think that the hard times would be only temporary.

Original Passage At the start of the Great Depression, many Americans wanted to believe that the hard times would be only temporary.Correct ParaphrasingThe American people were hopeful the difficult times felt at the beginning of the Great Depression would not last.

Original Passage He was a very silent man by custom.

Paraphrased Text He was usually a quiet person.

Paraphrase the Paraphrase the SentencesSentences

The adolescent maneuvered the bi-wheeled vehicle undamaged.

In the metropolis the recreational area was dilapidated.

The educator removed the unruly student from the environment.

Online PracticeOnline Practice

http://www.laflemm.com/RfT/Phttp://www.laflemm.com/RfT/Practice/RfTPracticeParaphrasiractice/RfTPracticeParaphrasing.htmlng.html

http://www.laflemm.com/dynahttp://www.laflemm.com/dynamic/online_practice.php?practmic/online_practice.php?practice_id=7ice_id=7

CitationsCitations Make sure you keep track of Make sure you keep track of

websites you visit so you will websites you visit so you will be able to complete your be able to complete your bibliographybibliography

If you use information from a If you use information from a site without giving proper site without giving proper credit to the author, you are credit to the author, you are plagiarizingplagiarizing

What is a “Works Cited” Page?

A “Works Cited” page is the name that MLA gives to a bibliography. It is a listing

of all of the sources you cited in the body of your

paper.

Works Cited PageWorks Cited Page It should be the last page of your

project. You should type the words “Works Cited” and center it on the page.

Each entry reads like one long sentence.

The second and subsequent lines are always indented five spaces.

The sources are listed alphabetically by the first word or name of the entry. This first word or name should be what you use in your parenthetical citation.

ExampleExample

What is Parenthetical Citation?

Parenthetical citation is when a writer directly puts into the text a note from where he or she got the information. Parenthetical or “in-text” citation allows your reader to know from what source each idea/fact came.

ExamplesExamples

“In 2007, 37 percent of American adults sought medical information from the internet regarding a health problem they were experiencing before consulting a doctor” (Smith 38).

Direct Quote In-Text Citation:

Indirect Quote In-Text Citation:Instead of going to a doctor right

away, a recent study found that 37 percent of Americans are now turning to the internet for medical information (Smith 38).

Online Bibliography Online Bibliography GeneratorGenerator

www.bibme.owww.bibme.orgrg