Oscar Wilde: Internet Resources

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.

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.