TSEM 102Laksamee Putnamlputnam@towson.edu Research & Instruction Librarian

Slides: http://bit.ly/spring2014fathslides

First… Laksamee Putnam lputnam@towson.edu Cook Library Reference:

410.704.2462. IM/email

Phone: 410.704.3746. Twitter: @CookLibraryofTU Albert S. Cook facebook profile! Slides: http://bit.ly/spring2014fathslides

A quick plug… Library workshops Listed on the

library blog Chicago Manual

Style Wednesday, April

9th 4:00-5:30 – Cook Library 317

Image from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrsdkrebs/6812988187/

Agenda Pre-class reading Discussion Background reading/Internet searching Keywords Evaluating Resources

Wikipedia Woes and Google Gaffs

What are the pros and cons of so much information being online?

What do you do to be sure you’re finding credible resources? How do you evaluate

the information you find while researching?

Why is it important to support your argument with valid sources?

New York Times (2013) If a Story Is Viral, Truth May Be Taking a Beating http://nyti.ms/1d7MUUB

Google Analytics (2012) Google analytics in real life – Site search. http://youtu.be/cbtf1oyNg-8

DuckDuckGo (2012). There are no “regular results” on Google anymore.http://vimeo.com/duckduckgo/bubble

Web “Pre-Searching” Why start your search online?

Find background information

Help solidify research topic

Find new terminology to use as keywords

Find links and/or citations to other sources

Improve Google

Food and athletes

Advanced Google searching

Duck Duck Go

Sustainability and vegan diet

Cook Library’s Guide to the Web

Check out the TSEM Course Gateway

Keywords are critical! Sample topic:

How have processed foods negatively altered the health of Americans?

First, break the question down into key concepts: How have processed foods negatively

altered the health of Americans?

More on keywords… Expand your list to include synonyms then

add to it once you have done some background reading.

How have processed foods negatively altered the health of Americans?

processed foods health Americans

convenience foodjunk foodfood preservation

fitnessBMIenergy

United StatesNorth Americachildren

Create keywords Enter your research topic on your

worksheet Pass it to a group member Group member fills in

keywords/synonyms

What helped you find synonyms?

Search Tip #1Boolean “search connectors”

AND OR NOT

internet AND children Combining >1 topic

instruct OR teach Combining synonymous

terms

Which is better?

Search Tip #2 Use truncation!

Educat* finds Educate Education Educating Educator

Etc…

Search Tip #3 Phrase Searching…

Use quotations to keep a keyword phrase intact (words will be searched in the specific order)

Examples: “No Child Left Behind” “school reform”

Putting it all together… How have processed foods negatively altered

the health of Americans?

Processed food OR junk food

AND

Health OR obesity OR “body mass index”

AND

United States OR USA OR North America

processed foods health Americans

convenience foodjunk foodfood preservation

fitnessBMIobesity

United StatesNorth Americachildren

Create a search strategy Using the keywords on your worksheet

and the search tips mentioned here create a search strategy

Evaluate what you find Go to one of the websites below and

analyze it http://bit.ly/cosmicweb3 http://bit.ly/cosmicweb4 http://bit.ly/cosmicweb5 http://bit.ly/cosmicweb6 http://bit.ly/cosmicweb7

CurrencyReliabilityAuthorityPurpose/Point of View

Check for CRAP

Check for CRAP Currency

How recent is the information?

Can you locate a date when the resource was written/created/updated?

Based on your topic, is this current enough?

Why might the date matter for your topic?

Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library

http://www.flickr.com/photos/helloeveryone123/3937374193/sizes/m/in/photostream/

Check for CRAP Reliability

What kind of information is included in the resource?

Does the author provide citations & references for quotations & data

Where am I accessing this information?

Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library

http://www.flickr.com/photos/schnappi/5930145952/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Check for CRAP Authority

Can you determine who the author/creator is?

What are their credentials (education, affiliation, experience, etc.)?

Who is the publisher or sponsor of the work/site?

Is this publisher/sponsor reputable

Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library

http://rantchick.com/a-doctrine-on-respect/

Check for CRAP Purpose/Point of View

Is the content primarily opinion?

Is the information balanced or biased?

What is the purpose of the information? Is it to inform, teach, sell, entertain or persuade

Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cogdog/5484085301/sizes/m/in/photostream/

Group work:Fill out this spreadsheet http://bit.ly/tsemspring2014fathws Enter your names and choose a

research topic for the group Find a reliable website Find a “bad” website

Thanks for listening! Complete the paper worksheet!

Next class: Watch 2 more video and prepare for

discussion Use your keywords to find books/articles

Questions? Feel free to contact me:

Laksamee Putnam lputnam@towson.edu 410.704.3746. Twitter: @CookLibraryofTU

Or any reference librarian: Visit Cook Library Reference Desk 410.704.2462. IM – tucookchat