Step 2

DUE at the Start of Class (Week 2):

1. Read Instructions on Step 2 Page

2. Read Instructions on Step 3 Page

3. Complete 10 Annotations in an Annotated Bibliography

Step 2: Info Seeking Strategies

Step-at-a-glance

• Consider all possible places to find sources that will help your research.
• Avoid using sources from the list of least reliable sources.

Most Reliable (in order of most to least)

1. Nonfiction book: gives a full treatment of a topic with in-depth consideration and careful documentation including a list of sources used by the author.

2. Primary source: autobiography, speech, diary, interview, original document, etc.

3. Scholarly article: published in an academic journal and/or for a university press. These articles are peer reviewed or face close editorial scrutiny.

4. Sponsored web site: posted by an authoritative institution or a professional or governmental organization, e.g. The American Red Cross, The American Medical Association, or The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.

5. Encyclopedia article: offers a brief overview of a topic. While this may provide a good starting point, most high school teachers expect more in-depth sources.

6. Online subscription databases: massive collections of published articles, most full-text, stored electronically i.e. InfoTrac and eLibrary. These databases contain searchable almanacs, scholarly journals, serials, directories, newspapers, and more. Each database has its own search engine. You cannot access these subscription databases through a common search engine like Google. Though accessed online, these sources are not considered web sites since they usually appear first in a print format.

7. Newspaper articles: rarely reflect careful research and sometimes lack objectivity. Nevertheless, they can provide useful background information and sometimes are a primary source.

8. Individual web sites with a specific author who has academic credentials, expertise, and authority in the field and who provides contact information.

9. Popular Magazine articles: do not face critical review by experts and seldom provide in-depth coverage of a topic. Be cautious as some of these appear in Online Subscription Databases.

Least Reliable (it is recommended you do not use these)

1. Search engines: indiscriminately include billions of commercial sites and amateurish opinions, as well as authoritative web sites.

2. Wikipedia: essentially a blog indiscriminately including information posted by amateurs, experts, and pranksters.

3. Individual web sites without an author or reputable, institutional sponsor or with an author lacking credentials who may