College professors wish that students would do a better job of choosing and evaluating their sources for research. They prefer that students use library databases over websites, as databases contain published, fact-checked works written by experts. Websites can be unreliable because anyone can author them and the information is not verified. Professors also want students to understand how serious plagiarism is, as it can result in failure of the course or expulsion. Students should cite all sources to avoid plagiarism.

1. WHAT EVERY COLLEGE
PROFESSOR WISHES YOU
KNEW ABOUT RESEARCH
RICHELLE O’NEIL, PROSPER ISD

2. THEY WISH YOU
WOULD DO A
BETTER JOB OF
CHOOSING AND
EVALUATING
YOUR SOURCES

3. EXAMPLES OF LIBRARY DATABASES

4. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A LIBRARY
DATABASE AND A WEBSITE?
LIBRARY DATABASES
• Library databases get their information from
professionals or experts in the field.
• Library databases contain published works
where facts are checked.
• Library databases are easy to cite in a
bibliography and may create the citation for
you.
• Library databases can help you narrow your
topic or suggest related subjects.
• Library databases are updated frequently and
include the date of publication.
WEBSITES
• Websites can be written by anyone regardless
of expertise.
• Website content is not necessarily checked by
an expert.
• Websites often don’t provide the information
necessary to create a complete citation.
• Websites often aren’t organized to support
student research needs.
• Websites may not indicate when a page is
updated.
Source: Hennepin County Library,
http://tinyurl.com/nmvqoge

5. EVALUATING WEBSITES USING S.P.I.D.E.R.
•Source
• Who is the author? What are his/her credentials?
• If the website is not signed, is there another way to trace it’s
sponsor?
Adapted from Dr. Tom Johnson,
sites.google.com/site/spiderwebsiteevaluation/

6. EVALUATING WEBSITES USING S.P.I.D.E.R.
•Purpose
• Why is the author hosting the site?
• For profit or to share scholarly materials?
• Is the information biased?
Adapted from Dr. Tom Johnson,
sites.google.com/site/spiderwebsiteevaluation/

7. S.P.I.D.E.R.
•Information
• Is the information relevant and current?
• Has the website been updated recently?
Adapted from Dr. Tom Johnson,
sites.google.com/site/spiderwebsiteevaluation/

8. S.P.I.D.E.R.
•Domain
• What does the URL say about the website?
• These are restricted to certain institutions:
• .gov Government Agency www.whitehouse.gov
• .mil Military Agency www.navy.mil
• .edu Educational Institutions www.unt.edu
Adapted from Dr. Tom Johnson,
sites.google.com/site/spiderwebsiteevaluation/

9. S.P.I.D.E.R.
• Domain
• The following domains are open and unrestricted
• Anyone can purchase these names:
• .com Commercial Agency www.amazon.com/
www.thedogisland.com
• .net Internet Service Providers www.netzero.net/
www.prosper-isd.net
• .org Organization www.redcross.org/
www.martinlutherking.org/
Adapted from Dr. Tom Johnson,
sites.google.com/site/spiderwebsiteevaluation/

10. S.P.I.D.E.R.
•Educational
• How in-depth is the material?
• Is it a hoax or silly?
Adapted from Dr. Tom Johnson,
sites.google.com/site/spiderwebsiteevaluation/

11. S.P.I.D.E.R.
•Reliable
• Can the same information be found on other reliable websites?
Adapted from Dr. Tom Johnson,
sites.google.com/site/spiderwebsiteevaluation/

12. SEARCH RESULTS
• Don’t the best sites show
up at the top of my search
results?
• Nope!
#3

13. WHAT ABOUT WIKIPEDIA?
• Use information found on Wikipedia cautiously.
• While it may be a good source of information in your everyday life,
many people do not consider it to be an authoritative source.
• Most professors will not accept Wikipedia as a source for your
projects.
• UT Dallas policy: students receive an automatic F if Wikipedia is
used as a source
• You may, however, find authoritative sources in the references
section.

14. THE GOOD & BAD OF WIKIPEDIA
• Featured article: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bald_Eagle
• Article that needs improving:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Boston_Legal_characters

15. THEY WISH YOU UNDERSTOOD WHAT A BIG DEAL
PLAGIARISM REALLY IS
• Consequences of plagiarism in college:
• Grade penalty
• Fail the course
• Suspension from school
• Expulsion from school
• Some schools have a Student Judicial Committee that will hear the
plagiarism case against a student and determine a punishment
• Don’t forget – your instructors talk to one another. If you plagiarize in one
class, your other instructors will know about it.

16. HOW CAN YOU AVOID PLAGIARISM?
• Cite your sources!
• In-text (parenthetical) citations
• Works Cited page (Bibliography)
• Cite anything and everything that is not your original idea

17. CITING YOUR SOURCES IS EASIER THAN EVER BEFORE
Source:
http://ovidlibrary.org/history.html

18. SO JUST DO IT!