Sources for the Documented Argument Essay

ESL 51

Reference Books

World Book Encyclopedia  Ref AE5.W55 2000

Encyclopedia of Social Issues  Ref HN57 .E59 1997    Use the Index in the last volume to look up your subject.

Encyclopedia of Family Life Ref HQ524 .E53 1999

American Heritage Encyclopedia of American History Ref E174 .A535 1998

Encyclopedia of Civil Rights in America Ref E185.61 .E544 1998

The Reader's Companion to U.S. Women's History Ref HQ 1410 .R43 1998

Women's Almanac 2000 Ref HQ1101 .W7562

The Oxford Companion to American Military History Ref E181 .O94 1999

Encyclopedia of American Crime Ref H V6789 .S54 2001

Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology Ref BF31 .G35 2001

American Immigrant Cultures Ref E184 .A1 A63448 1997

Cultures of Color in America Ref E184 .A1 L33 1998

Web Sites

It is very important to evaluate any source that you use for research.  It is especially important to evaluate web sites that you use for research.  WHY?

Because anyone can put anything on the Internet. 

• There is a lot of very good information available on the Internet. 

• There is also a lot of very bad information available on the Internet.

YOU have to be able to tell the difference!

Here’s how to evaluate web pages for your argumentation research:

1. Find out WHO is responsible for the contents of the web page.  Who’s the AUTHOR?  What COMPANY or ORGANIZATION sponsors/publishes the web page?  What information is provided about the author or the organization?  
2. Look at the web site’s OBJECTIVITY.  Are any biases or opinions clearly stated?
3. Look at the ACCURACY of the web page.
4. Look at how CURRENT the web page is.
5. Look for a LIST OF SOURCES the author of the web page used in his or her own research. 

How to find good web pages:

1.     Start at our Internet Search Page (www.nvcc.edu/library/internet.htm ) and pick a good search engine or directory. 

• Any of the Internet Subject Directories are usually good for academic research because they are more selective than search engines.  Best Information on the Net is good for argumentation papers.
• Large Search Engines, such as Google or any of the Meta Search Engines are good to use when you need to find as many web sites as possible or when the words you’re searching for are not very common.  Remember to type just the most important words in the search box. 

2.     Use more than one search engine or directory.  Since each search engine and directory covers only a small part of the Internet, you will get somewhat different results with different search engines.

3.     Visit websites that provide information – and links to more websites – on many different topics.  Some sites to start with:  www.publicagenda.com ,    www.politics1.com ,  library.sau.edu/bestinfo/Hot/hotindex.htm

4.     Use our Best of the Web site (www.nvcc.edu/library/bestweb.htm) for links to good, interesting, and useful websites compiled by NOVA staff.

EXERCISE: Evaluating Web Sites -- Argumentation Topics

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Created by Anne Anderson. Last updated July 2009.