1 le 4000 english for academic purposes step 2 gathering academic information the internet &...

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LE 4000 LE 4000 ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC

PURPOSESPURPOSES

STEP 2 STEP 2 Gathering academic information Gathering academic information

The InternetThe Internet

&&

Other academic sourcesOther academic sources

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The internetThe internet

We are sure that the We are sure that the internet internet wouldwould be be

your your favouritefavourite research tool. research tool.

butbut….….

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So, you need to…So, you need to…

1.1. Use search engines to Use search engines to your advantageyour advantage

2.2. Identify the web siteIdentify the web site

3.3. Examine for Examine for credibilitycredibility

4.4. Determine depth and Determine depth and scope of informationscope of information

5.5. Assess date of Assess date of informationinformation

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The Internet and ResearchThe Internet and Research

►Finding Finding quality quality academic academic web web materials and materials and using them to using them to your advantage your advantage in your writing in your writing can be can be challenging.challenging.

LE 4000:

English for Academic Purposes

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Most importantly, Most importantly, don’t don’t forgetforget to to

evaluate web sources evaluate web sources because…because…

Most importantly, Most importantly, don’t don’t forgetforget to to

evaluate web sources evaluate web sources because…because…►Virtually any Virtually any

person can publish person can publish almost anything on almost anything on the Internet.the Internet.

►Unlike most print Unlike most print sources, web sources, web sources do not have sources do not have to be professionally to be professionally accepted and edited accepted and edited to be published.to be published.

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Types Of Web PagesTypes Of Web Pages Types Of Web PagesTypes Of Web Pages

1.1. Informative pagesInformative pages

2.2. Personal web pagesPersonal web pages

3.3. Political/interest Political/interest group pagesgroup pages

4.4. Marketing-oriented Marketing-oriented or “infomercial” or “infomercial” pagespages

5.5. Entertainment Entertainment pagespages

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1. What is a search 1. What is a search engine?engine?

►A search A search engine is an engine is an Internet tool Internet tool that locates that locates web pages and web pages and sorts them sorts them according to according to specified specified keywords.keywords.

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Types of search enginesTypes of search engines

►Yahoo and Alta Vista are the Yahoo and Alta Vista are the most useful search engines most useful search engines for beginning searches.for beginning searches.

►Google, Northern Light, and Google, Northern Light, and Snap access the greatest Snap access the greatest percentage of the World percentage of the World Wide Web –around 15-16%.Wide Web –around 15-16%.

►Dogpile will search through Dogpile will search through several search engines at several search engines at once.once.

►A collection of search A collection of search engine links is available at engine links is available at the OWL web site: the OWL web site: owl.english.purdue.edu

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Use search engines Use search engines to your advantageto your advantage

Use search engines Use search engines to your advantageto your advantage

► Search engines can Search engines can help you to identify help you to identify sources that will sources that will provide serious provide serious information, information, products or services, products or services, or entertainment. or entertainment.

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Use search engines to Use search engines to your advantageyour advantage

Use search engines to Use search engines to your advantageyour advantage

►Pick the right search engine Pick the right search engine for your research needs.for your research needs. Yahoo and AltaVista will Yahoo and AltaVista will

help you to distinguish help you to distinguish between different between different categories of web sites.categories of web sites.

Hotbot, however, locates Hotbot, however, locates information based upon the information based upon the popularity of the site.popularity of the site.

►Refine your search whenever Refine your search whenever possible.possible.

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Limit your keyword searchLimit your keyword search

► It is a good idea to It is a good idea to read the read the directions for each directions for each search engine to search engine to get the most out get the most out of your search.of your search.

►Use words like Use words like AND and OR to AND and OR to limit your search limit your search and get more and get more specified specified information.information.

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2. Identify the web site2. Identify the web site2. Identify the web site2. Identify the web site

► Sometimes the actual Sometimes the actual purpose of the web site purpose of the web site may not be clearly may not be clearly articulated.articulated.

► Can be difficult to Can be difficult to separate advertising separate advertising from accurate from accurate information.information.

► Some marketing sites Some marketing sites will offer misleading will offer misleading information in attempts information in attempts to sell their products.to sell their products.

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Identify the web siteIdentify the web siteIdentify the web siteIdentify the web site

►Whenever Whenever possible, try to possible, try to locate the home locate the home page.page.

►You can often do You can often do this by eliminating this by eliminating some information some information from the end of from the end of the URL such the URL such as as .org .gov .com .n.org .gov .com .netet .edu .us au .uk.edu .us au .uk

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on the web on the web sitessites

on the web on the web sitessites

►Who is the creator Who is the creator of the site?of the site?

►What is the purpose What is the purpose of the site?of the site?

►Who is the audience Who is the audience of this site?of this site?

► Can you purchase Can you purchase products at this products at this site?site?

► Is the site Is the site affiliated with a affiliated with a business or business or university?university?

►Does the site Does the site offer idiosyncratic offer idiosyncratic information about information about a particular a particular person or group?person or group?

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3. Examine the credibility3. Examine the credibility3. Examine the credibility3. Examine the credibility►Credibility may be Credibility may be

compromised by compromised by purposeful purposeful misinformation or by misinformation or by unintentional neglect.unintentional neglect.

►Locating the name of Locating the name of the site’s creator may the site’s creator may be challenging. be challenging.

►Credentials may be Credentials may be missing even if the missing even if the author’s name is author’s name is provided.provided.

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on credibilityon credibilityon credibilityon credibility

► Who is the author of Who is the author of the site?the site?

► What is the authority or What is the authority or expertise of the expertise of the individual or group?individual or group?

► What else comes up What else comes up when you type the when you type the author’s name into a author’s name into a search engine?search engine?

► Does the source have a Does the source have a political or business political or business agenda?agenda?

► Is the site sponsored by Is the site sponsored by a political or business a political or business group? If so, what can group? If so, what can you find out about that you find out about that group?group?

► Does the site provide a Does the site provide a list of sources or a list of sources or a Works Cited page?Works Cited page?

► Can you locate any of Can you locate any of the source material? the source material? How reliable is this How reliable is this material?material?

► Are there links to other Are there links to other credible sites with credible sites with additional information?additional information?

► Does the site provide a Does the site provide a link for emailing the link for emailing the author or webmaster?author or webmaster?

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4. Determine depth 4. Determine depth and and

scope of informationscope of information

4. Determine depth 4. Determine depth and and

scope of informationscope of information►Does the material show signs of Does the material show signs of

research, such as references to other research, such as references to other sources, hyperlinks, footnotes, or a sources, hyperlinks, footnotes, or a reference page?reference page?

►Does the author consider opposing Does the author consider opposing points of view?points of view?

►How closely does the site really How closely does the site really match the information for which you match the information for which you are searching?are searching?

►Verify information whenever Verify information whenever possible!possible!

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Determine depth and Determine depth and scope of informationscope of information


Are there a lot of flashy pictures, colors, animated

images, and logos designed to attract

attention? Do these eye-catching images distract you from noticing a lack of credible information?

Do they disguise an attempt to get you to buy

something?

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►Different from print sources:Different from print sources: Information covered on web pages is often Information covered on web pages is often

presented for easy digestion and visual presented for easy digestion and visual appeal.appeal.

Information may not provide sufficient depth Information may not provide sufficient depth or scope.or scope.

Material may be affected by marketing or Material may be affected by marketing or political bias.political bias.

►Sometimes web sources may not be the right Sometimes web sources may not be the right sources for the information you need.sources for the information you need.

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5. Assess date of 5. Assess date of informationinformation

5. Assess date of 5. Assess date of informationinformation

►Can you locate a date on the Can you locate a date on the web page?web page?

►Dates on web pages can Dates on web pages can mean:mean: Date the author first wrote Date the author first wrote

or developed the materialor developed the material Date site was first available Date site was first available

on the Internet for public on the Internet for public accessaccess

Date site was most recently Date site was most recently updated, including revisions, updated, including revisions, additions, or subtractions to additions, or subtractions to the materialthe material

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The reliability of online sites. The reliability of online sites. Remember…Remember…

►Reliable sites are from educational, NGOs or government organizations.

►Expert authors. Names mentioned in other sources.

►Subscribed by the university or library.

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You have seen how to You have seen how to criticallycritically evaluate and evaluate and

use the internet.use the internet.

Let us proceed to Let us proceed to

THE EVALUATION OF PUBLISHED THE EVALUATION OF PUBLISHED ACADEMIC SOURCESACADEMIC SOURCES

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STEP 3STEP 3 EVALUATING PUBLISHED EVALUATING PUBLISHED

ACADEMIC MATERIALSACADEMIC MATERIALS

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WHY DO I HAVE TO EVALUATE WHY DO I HAVE TO EVALUATE THE PUBLISHED MATERIALS?THE PUBLISHED MATERIALS?

Sources are rarely of equal value.Sources are rarely of equal value.

Not every source will contribute to the Not every source will contribute to the academic field.academic field.

Not everything is reliable.Not everything is reliable.

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WHAT ARE THE MAIN ACADEMIC WHAT ARE THE MAIN ACADEMIC SOURCES TO BE USED?SOURCES TO BE USED?

►ONLINE : ARTICLES IN ON-LINE ONLINE : ARTICLES IN ON-LINE JOURNALS (LIBRARY DATABASE), JOURNALS (LIBRARY DATABASE), ARTICLES FROM WORLD WIDE WEBARTICLES FROM WORLD WIDE WEB

► PRINTED : BOOKS, JOURNALS, PRINTED : BOOKS, JOURNALS, MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERSMAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS

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1. INITIAL APPRAISAL1. INITIAL APPRAISAL

a)a) Is the source authoritative?Is the source authoritative?

b)b) Is the author an expert?Is the author an expert?

c)c) When is the date of publication (Is it When is the date of publication (Is it current or classic) ?current or classic) ?

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a. PUBLISHERa. PUBLISHER► Is it a university publisher?Is it a university publisher?► Is it likely to be scholarly?Is it likely to be scholarly?

►Even if the publisher is reputable, this Even if the publisher is reputable, this does not mean the source is a quality does not mean the source is a quality source, but it does indicate the source, but it does indicate the publisher has a high regard for it.publisher has a high regard for it.

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date of information date of information date of information date of information

►Does the site clearly Does the site clearly state a date of state a date of creation or a date for creation or a date for the most recent the most recent update?update?

►More importantly, More importantly, does the information does the information cover recent changes cover recent changes or advances in the or advances in the field or topic you are field or topic you are researching?researching?

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1. INITIAL APPRAISAL:1. INITIAL APPRAISAL:

b. AUTHORb. AUTHOR► What do you know about the author? What do you know about the author? ► Why did you choose him?Why did you choose him?► A specialist? A specialist? ► Affiliated to any organization? Affiliated to any organization?

Values?Values?► Has your lecturer referred to him?Has your lecturer referred to him?

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c. DATE OF PUBLICATIONc. DATE OF PUBLICATION►When was the source published?When was the source published?► Is the source current or out of date for your Is the source current or out of date for your

topic? (Topic areas such as sciences and topic? (Topic areas such as sciences and engineering are very up-to-date unlike the engineering are very up-to-date unlike the social sciences.)social sciences.)

► Is this a first edition of this publication? Is this a first edition of this publication? Further editions indicate the source has Further editions indicate the source has been revised and updated.been revised and updated.

► If you are using a web source, do the pages If you are using a web source, do the pages indicate revision dates?indicate revision dates?

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WHAT DO I LOOK FURTHER WHAT DO I LOOK FURTHER WHEN I ANALYSE MY SOURCES?WHEN I ANALYSE MY SOURCES?

a.a. Intended audience.Intended audience.

b.b. Objective reasoning.Objective reasoning.

c.c. Coverage.Coverage.

d.d. Writing style.Writing style.

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A. INTENDED AUDIENCEA. INTENDED AUDIENCE

►Who is the audience?Who is the audience?►Specialized audience?Specialized audience?

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B. OBJECTIVE REASONINGB. OBJECTIVE REASONING

►Based on facts or opinions? Based on facts or opinions? ► Is it a propaganda? Is it well Is it a propaganda? Is it well

researched? researched? ► Is the author being objective or Is the author being objective or

emotional?emotional?

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C. COVERAGEC. COVERAGE

►Read the preface. Scan the table of Read the preface. Scan the table of contents. Found what you need? Read contents. Found what you need? Read the chapters/parts that address your the chapters/parts that address your topic.topic.

►Does it cover your topic? Does it cover your topic? ►Does it add new input to your Does it add new input to your

viewpoints? viewpoints? ►Does it repeat what you already have?Does it repeat what you already have?

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D. WRITING STYLED. WRITING STYLE

►Can you find the main ideas? Can you find the main ideas? ►What are the details? What are the details? ►How do you find the language? Is it easy How do you find the language? Is it easy

to understand? Too easy? Too difficult? to understand? Too easy? Too difficult? Full of jargons? Too technical? Just right?Full of jargons? Too technical? Just right?

► It helps if you like the writer’s style of writing.It helps if you like the writer’s style of writing.► If you find yourself rereading sentences over If you find yourself rereading sentences over

and over just to get the gist of the paragraph, and over just to get the gist of the paragraph, FORGET IT!FORGET IT!

► Try to find other sourcesTry to find other sources

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IN SUMMARY,IN SUMMARY,

►CHECK THE WRITER,CHECK THE WRITER,►CHECK THE PUBLISHER,CHECK THE PUBLISHER,►CHECK THE DATES,CHECK THE DATES,►CHECK THE TYPE OF CONTENT…CHECK THE TYPE OF CONTENT…

before use you a printed material.before use you a printed material.

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COMPREHENSION COMPREHENSION QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

1 le 4000 english for academic purposes step 2 gathering academic information the internet &...

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