Skip to main content

Oscar Wilde: Internet Resources

English 2341 with Susan Cotton

Best of the Web

Google Scholar

Google Scholar

   

 

Google Scholar can be a useful starting place when looking for websites for research. It limits the traditional Google search to only those items which are from more scholarly domains. However, there are two main tips to keep in mind when searching Google Scholar:

1) Not everything is available in full-text. Some sites will ask you to pay for content or will only give you a citation. If the full-text is available for free, it will be listed to the right of the search result.

2) Not everything is scholarly. Be sure to still evaluate every website for the tips listed on the right side of this page.

Think Like a Librarian: Evaluating Internet Resources

The Internet can be a wonderful source of original or primary sources.  Browse the sites we have suggested as "Best of the Web.". If you do your own searching, determine if it is a credible source by critically applying these criteria:

  1. Accuracy - The information should be researched and show proof that it has been.
  2. Source - Who wrote the information? Look at the domain.  .edu .gov. org .net are valid research sources.
  3. Authority - What are the author's credentials?  (Don't quote from another college freshman's paper.)
  4. Coverage - Does the page have the information you need for your research?
  5. Objectivity - If a work is biased, use it - just make sure your professor knows YOU know. And offer both sides of issues, where applicable.

Does Your Information Source Measure Up?

Evaluating Information Checklist

DIRECTIONS: Click the response that best characterizes a specific information source (e.g., web page, periodical article, government document, or book) and this automatically-scoring checklist will help you rate whether the source provides useful support for class-related research.

Reliability
1. Information about the author and/or sponsor of this material in the source itself? Yes (1 pt.)
No (0 pt.)
2. Information verifies that they are knowledgeable about the topic or that they consulted experts? Yes (4 pt.)
No (0 pt.)
3. Information sources cited in the text and/or in a list? Yes (2 pt.)
No (0 pt.)

Total Reliability Points


Content
1. Does the title or other information suggest that this material primarily presents facts (e.g., research study, charts, graphs, and/or statistics, etc.)? Yes (2 pt.)
No (0 pt.)
2. Does the title or other information suggest that this material includes opinion with valid and reliable support materials (e.g., teacher citing research studies that suggest year-round schooling is detrimental to children)? Yes (2 pt.)
No (0 pt.)
3. Does the author and/or sponsor include different viewpoints or opinions about an issue? Yes (2 pt.)
No (0 pt.)
4. Does the information meet your expectations? (e.g., contents match the title) Yes (1 pt.)
No (0 pt.)

Total Content Points

Currency
1. Date listed in the information source that relates to the timeliness of material being presented?  Yes (1 pt.)
No (0 pt.)
2. Source include information that is still useful and/or valid?  Yes (2 pt.)
No (0 pt.)

Total Currency Points

Appropriateness
1. Does this information seem to support my topic thesis? Yes (2 pt.)
No (0 pt.)
2. Can I understand this information without having special training or education? Yes (2 pt.)
No (0 pt.)
3. Does this information include sufficient topic detail to be useful? Yes (2 pt.)
No (0 pt.)

Total Appropriateness Points

TOTAL SCORE FOR THIS SOURCE:
  

BASED ON TOTAL SCORE ABOVE,
YOUR SOURCE'S RATING:

LSC-Kingwood Library | Ask Us: Kingwood.Library@LoneStar.edu | Reference: 281.312.1693 | Circulation: 281.312.1691 | LIB 100, 20000 Kingwood Drive, Kingwood, TX 77339