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Looking for a topic...
Finding sources...
Primary Source | Secondary Source | Tertiary Source |
Think original study. Examples: lab reports, experiments published in science journals
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Think secondhand information. Examples: news articles, magazine articles, published reports or summaries
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Think general overview. Examples: encyclopedias, textbooks, websites giving a summary of a topic
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Evaluating sources...
Who? |
Who created the source? Are they a CREDIBLE source for SCIENTIFIC information? Note on websites: |
What? |
What is the purpose of the source? The purpose of scientific research is to further scientific thinking. Information for science research must be free of political bias. Because science is often used for non-scientific purposes, you should only use sources that study and publish SCIENTIFIC findings. This is different from other subjects like history, where you could incorporate perspectives from different disciplines like economics, political science, sociology, etc. |
When? | When was the source published? In science, currency matters. Information should be as up-to-date as possible and reflect the most current understanding of the subject being studied. |
Citations? |
Does the source reference other sources? If none is provided, you should ask: is this a source that actually studies science? Is the information replicated elsewhere? If other reputable sources are saying the same thing, chances are the information presented is accurate. If other reputable sources cite the source and support its findings, chances are the information presented can be trusted. |
Citing sources...
What | Why | When |
Roadmap to the original source |
Avoid plagiarism! Show your credibility! Contribute to the World of Knowledge! |
Using any text, images, charts, or data pulled from another source Directly quote AND paraphrase information Something is a fact, but not common knowledge. |
When in doubt, cite.
Citation Style: MLA 8th Edition
Citation Tool: NoodleTools
Not sure how to use NoodleTools? Watch these short tutorials:
Getting to NoodleTools
Registering for a NoodleTools Account
Adding Citations to NoodleTools
Creating a Works Cited in NoodleTools
Need help with in-text citations?
Check out this guide