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WELCOME TO THE ENG 1530 Webquest: AN OVERVIEW
In class and through our readings, we have explored the importance of author, audience, and purpose as the fundamentals of
reading and writing.
For your most recent essay, you were asked to locate scholarly or peer-reviewed articles using the Warren Library Databases.
Sources found in library databases, particularly articles that are peer-reviewed, tend to have already been evaluated for
credibility and other factors which determine the appropriateness and usefulness of a research source.
The Internet is a different story. When using the Internet to locate sources, we may be inclined to believe this method is
the easiest way to obtain the information we seek. Many of us use this extraordinary tool frequently to look up anything from
sports scores to recipes. While the surface impression of the technology may appear to grant us instant access at our fingertips,
the truth is that we must be critical evaluators when using online sources for academic purposes.
Using such an expansive and malleable tool requires a level of familiarity and practice if the user wishes to acquire the
best results. This Webquest and class session should begin to give you some directions to conduct more efficient Internet
research.
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SOME TIPS ON CONDUCTING ACADEMIC RESEARCH USING THE INTERNET
1) It will take TIME. Do not expect to simply "Google" a key word from your claim and find the best article or resource
on your first try. For example, typing “human cloning” into a Google search engine identifies 30,600,000 sites.
You obviously don’t have time to look at all of those pages, much less closely read each page. This Webquest will show
you a few techniques for determining if an Internet resource is worthy of your time before you actually print or fully read
what the site has to offer.
2) It will take FOCUS. Possessing a clear understanding of the specific information you desire within the broad spectrum
of your starting claim will narrow your search and permit you additional time to examine more relevant websites. Consider
including another word in your search. For example, if you type “human cloning” and “opponents” into
a Google search, the search only returns 459,000 results, while “human cloning” and “danger” returns
512,000. You now will likely have an easier task of finding information regarding what the opposition has to say on this issue.
Also consider typing in a year (such as 2006) to locate resources that are more recent. Another resource to consider is Google
News. Using Google News will give you more current and targeted results from websites such as newspapers and online media
publications. To see the difference, visit these two links and type in “human cloning” or keywords from your topic
for Essay Four:
www.google.com
www.news.google.com
3) It will require EVALUATION. As a researcher, it is your job to attempt to gain a full understanding of an online
source's purpose. Using shotty sources not only weakens your ability to comprehend the issue, but can also reflect detrimentally
on your own credibility. Even if your source is derived from a news organization, you still should carefully evaluate the
author or organization’s credentials. Is the information based on an editorial (often opinion, sometimes non-expert)?
Sometimes, typing the author or organization’s name into a search engine (such as Google) can tell you more about the
other work that is affiliated with your source.
4) It will require DOCUMENTATION. After you examine the content and find it satisfactory, you still must look carefully
to find dates, authors, and MLA reference information for your works cited page. DON’T FORGET TO PRINT YOUR SOURCES
and copy the URL (or web address). This may also be advantageous for note-taking purposes.
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