Documentation Guide for Electronic Sources
Some teachers may require you to cite your sources based on APA guidelines. To see examples of APA documentation, visit the American Psychological Association's homepage. Additional information about both the MLA and APA styles for documentation can be found at the Writers Workshop website from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Copyright Information
Copyright for Educators The Internet School Library Media
Center has links to resources with information about Fair Use guidelines, Copyright, and Intellectual Property.
Crash Course in Copyright This online course from the University of Texas covers everything you need to know about copyright.
Big Six Research Model
What is the Big Six* Research
Model? It is six easy steps to a great
research project! Have you ever been confused
about how to complete an assignment? What does your
teacher want you to do? Where will you find the information?
How will you know if you have done a good job? These
are all very good questions to ask yourself before
you begin an assignment. This research model will
help you be successful as you go from the beginning
of the assignment to the end. Let's look at these
six easy steps. Step 1. Task Definition Step
2. Information Seeking Strategies Step
3. Location and Access Step
4. Use of Information Step 5. Synthesis Step
6. Evaluation Click
here to print a student to help you organize your assignment according to
the Big6 research model. Use your browser's back button
to return to this page. For more information about
the Big6 visit the Big6
home page. *The
descriptions, text, and images of the Big6™
, Big6™ Skills, Big6™ process,
and Big6™ curriculum are copyrighted by
Eisenberg, Berkowitz, 1987. Permission is granted
for non-commercial use in educational settings. Student
Research Log 1.
Task Definition 2. Information Seeking
Strategies
3.Location and Access 4. Use of Information 5. Synthesis
6. Evaluation *The
descriptions, text, and images of the Big6™
, Big6™ Skills, Big6™
process, and Big6™ curriculum are copyrighted
by Eisenberg, Berkowitz, 1987. Permission is granted
for non-commercial use in educational settings.
Web
Site Evaluation
It is very important to cite your sources when you use information from the Internet. Click here for examples of citations for Internet resources that are based on MLA guidelines. To save space these entries are single spaced. Remember that MLA guidelines require you to double space the list of works cited. Begin each entry at the left margin and indent the subsequent line or lines one-half inch. For more information, visit the Modern Language Association Homepage.
For copyright information, visit these websites:
What are you supposed to do? Listen carefully as your
teacher explains the assignment and then try to put
the instructions into your own words. What special
requirements are there to this assignment? Do you
need a picture? How long should it be? Will you be
required to do a PowerPoint presentation? A speech?
What are the possible sources
of information that you can use? Print sources? Online
resources - databases and/or web sites? Human resources
such as an expert in the field? Prioritize these sources.
Select the best resource to begin your research.
Where are these sources located?
Do you know how to use them? Most of your best print
and online resources can be found in your school library.
Your school librarian can help you find the information
you need within these sources.
This is the step that you usually think of when you
think of "research." In this step you will
read, take notes, make copies, highlight important
facts, and record and evaluate the information you
find. Be careful if you are using the Internet. Did
your teacher recommend the web site you are using?
If not, be sure to evaluate the web site before you take any information from
it.
In this step you will organize all of your information
into the final product. Take another look at step
one so you know exactly what you are supposed to do.
Be sure to cite all of your sources.
Evaluate your final product. Does it answer all of
the questions outlined in Step 1? Evaluate your research
process. Take some time to think about how you did
your research. What worked? What didn't?
This research log is based on the Big6* research
model. These questions can be used to organize your
assignment.
Complete questions 1 through 3 before your begin your
research.
What information do you need to complete
this assignment?
What sources are available to you?
Which sources will you use to get started
with your research?
Where
are these sources located?
What key words or phrases will help
you locate your information?
Read and take notes.
Photocopy and highlight information.
Collect information from all of your
sources.
Cite your sources.
Organize your information.
Create the final product.
Evaluate the product. Have another
student evaluate the product.
Evaluate your research process. What worked
well for you in this assignment? What could you
have done to improve your research?
It is very important to evaluate the sources that
you use. Since the Internet has no editors to preview
information, and since anyone can publish information
on the Web, it is up to you to decide if the web site
you are looking at contains good information. Use
the questions listed below to help you evaluate a
web site.
Authority
Who is the author? Is the author's email address listed
on the page?
Accuracy
Is a bibliography listed so that you can check the
accuracy of this information?
Objectivity
Is it clear what organization is sponsoring these
pages? What is the address of this page? What is the
purpose of this page?
Currency
When was this page first published? When was it last
updated?
