Research - How to tell if a website is credible

tips on how to paraphrase

*reword - replace words and phrases with synonyms whenever you can. *rearrange - rearrange words within sentences to make new sentences. You can even rearrange the ideas presented within the paragraph. *realize that some words and phrases cannot be changed - names, dates, titles, etc. cannot be replaced, but you can present them differently in your paraphrase. *recheck - make sure that your paraphrase conveys the same meaning as the original text.

How to avoid plagiarism

*take effective notes. Don't copy down everything you see on a website or book exactly. Always write down where you found information or bookmark the web page. *make sure you make it clear who said what. Was it your idea or did you find the idea/information elsewhere? When referencing someone else's thoughts use their name. EX: Smith believes that global warming is the cause of many environmental issues. *learn to paraphrase effectively.

bibliography

a list of the books or websites referred to in a scholarly work such as a research paper or presentation. It will include the book or website publication information and there's a certain format that must be followed. This should appear at the end of any research project you do. EX: ROWLING, J.K. HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE. ARTHUR A LEVINE, 2018

secondary sources

are those that describe or analyze primary sources, including: *reference materials - dictionaries, encyclopedias, textbooks *books and articles that interpret, review, or synthesize original research/fieldwork.

domain

domain .edu is reserved for colleges and universities, while .gov denotes a government website. These are two usually credible sources for information. Be careful with the domain .org, because .org is usually used by non-profit organizations which may persuade more than educare.

paraphrasing

express the meaning of (the writer or speaker) using different words, especially to achieve greater clarity

primary source

original materials on which other research is based, including: *original written works - poems, diaries, court records, interviews, surveys, and original *researcjfieldwork *research published in scholarly/academic journals.

writing style

poor spelling and grammar are an indication that the site may not be credible. In an effort to make the information presented easy to understand, credible sites watch writing styles closely.

cite (your sources)

quote (a passage, book, or author) as evidence for or justification of an argument or statement, especially in a scholarly work.

plagiarism

taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as your own (AKA stealing)

Date

the date of the article or research is important. Anything older than 5 years runs the risk of the information being irrelevant. By providing the date it allows the reader to make an educated decision.

Site design

this can be very subjective, but a well-designed site can indicate reliable information. Good design helps make information more easily accessible.

quoting

use the author's exact words. When you quote you must use quotation marks.

summarizing

you shorten the whole passage in your own words.

author

you should be able to find an author for the information. If they are willing to stand behind their work it shows they believe in it and it's reliable.