Citation & Evaluation of Sources
Cite Your Sources!
As you progress through your academic career, it will become increasingly important to distinguish between your original ideas and ideas and knowledge from other people. We practice this through the process of citation, of indicating from where we found facts and information.
Belmont High School cites sources in its assignemnts using the Modern Language Association's (MLA) format. A copy of the MLA Handook is located in the reference section of the library, and can be consulted. Additional insight as to the proper format for citation can be found via the Purdue University Online Writing Lab.
MLA8 Formatting and Style guide made available by Purdue OWL
A handy style guide to MLA Citation (8th ed.) made available by EasyBib
The BMS MLA8 Universal Citation Template
The BHS Student/Parent Handbook rule for
Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty
Always jot down where you find information as you read, take notes, or photocopy. When you actually start writing your research paper, you will have all the information you need to do your parenthetical notes and Works Cited list. While the exact components vary for different types of sources, be sure to include:
Author's or creator's name
Title of work
Title of container (whatever housed or provided access to the work)
Other contibutors (editors, co-authors, translators, etc.)
Publisher
Date of publication
Location of where information was found
For websites it is a good idea to additionally include:
URL (universal resource locator)
Dates the page was created or last updated.
Date it was accessed.
As much information as you can find about the sponsoring institution, organization, and/or author for the site. (You may need to follow links on the page or "strip" the URL from the right to find it. If you can not find all this information, perhaps the site is not a suitable site for an academic research paper.)
Evaluating Sources
The "PRAACtical Cats" worksheet for evaluating web sites for research: developed by Mr. Russell and Ms. Lavallee (2019)
Rubric for evaluating web sites for research: written by Diane Beaman (2008)
A simple checklist for evaluating web resources from the University of Southern Maine (2014)
Video checklist of questions to ask yourself while evaluating an informational webpage (2011)
The ABC's of website evaluation (1999)
Five criteria for evaluating Web pages from the UC Berkeley Library (2012)
This page last updated on 27 Sept. 2023.
Mission Statement:
The Belmont High School Library supports the school mission: to prepare students for their futures by promoting and supporting a safe, diverse, and respectful community that fosters individual responsibility and produces engaged members of society within a rigorous academic environment.
Library Policies:
Students may visit the library with a class or individually if granted a pass by BHS academic faculty. The library collaborates with the academic departments to assist teachers and students with gaining access to materials, equipment, and content, as well as to aid in the instruction of the four Standards for the 21st Century Learner. Students must read and sign the district Internet Acceptable Use Policy before they will be able to use the school's computer and internet resources.
The library collection of print and online resources are chosen according to the Shaker Regional materials selection policy in order to meet curriculum and access standards. Circulating materials are lent for a period of fourteen class days. Students may renew a book indefinitely if there are no holds by other patrons.