Tuesday, September 2, 2014

8 research sources for students that aren't Wikipedia

When students are instructed to write their research paper, they often get the same instruction for sources: Don't use Wikipedia as a source. After all, the online encyclopedia can be changed by anyone. While that can be a good thing sometimes, it can also lead to unverified information getting passed off as fact. Get off on the right foot by looking to these sources of research instead of Wikipedia. 


Research sources for students that aren't Wikipedia

Mathway
For those of us who were not born with natural mathematical talent, Mathway can be a lifesaver. Take your math homework to the site, and it will show you step by step how to solve it. Sign up for a free account, and you're good to go.

Research sources for students that aren't Wikipedia

Scared of Shakespeare? Frightened of Lord of the Flies? If you've been assigned a novel to read and feel in over your head, Spark Notes is a great resource for chapter-by-chapter book guides and even has some "no fear" versions of books, designed to help you make sense of writing from another time.

 Research sources for students that aren't Wikipedia

Google Scholar
When you need to go beyond books and seek out scholarly, peer-reviewed material, Google Scholar can help you out. It's an index of all the scholarly articles available online, although you'll occasionally be pointed to a site where you need paid access.

 Research sources for students that aren't Wikipedia

Encyclopedia Britannica
Once upon a time, encyclopedias were big books divided by letter that you had to scour to find the topic you wanted. Now, all that well-researched information is available online and isn't nearly as cumbersome to carry around. You get limited access for free, or you can pay an annual fee for more.

Research sources for students that aren't Wikipedia


Infoplease
Another great encyclopedia-style resource, Infoplease is created by Pearson, the world's largest education company and book publisher. In addition to the 57,000 articles in the Columbia Encyclopedia, you have access to a dictionary, periodic table, conversion tool, and "this day in history" fact sheet, as well as lots more for free.

Research sources for students that aren't Wikipedia

The Internet Public Library
Just like at a physical library, you can browse different sections by subject or search for the topic you want, and you'll be directed to dozens of websites to help you do the research you need.

Research sources for students that aren't Wikipedia

Google Books
Google has a huge collection of books digitized and searchable online, many of which are available for free. It's like walking into a library, yelling out your search term, and having the books you're looking for open up right in front of you.

Research sources for students that aren't Wikipedia

OWL @ Purdue Online Writing Lab
If you have a high school student at home learning to cite sources for the first time, this site may be your new best friend. There is detailed information on the two most popular citation styles, MLA and APA, as well as general guidelines for writing essays.







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