COM 200

Locating, Evaluating
And Citing Information

Pace University Library

Spring 2010
 To Be Covered in Today’s Session

 Locate information using reference sources,

databases and websites.
 Review criteria to evaluate articles and
websites
 Review citation guidelines
 Reference Resources
for Starting Your Research
Reference Resources for finding information:

 Gale Virtual Reference Library (Pace Library site)

 Encyclopedias, handbooks, etc.

 Pace Library Catalog

 Limit “location” to Mortola Reference

 Bartleby (www.bartleby.com)
 Encyclopedia, dictionary, famous quotations
 Library Databases
to Locate Articles

Databases containing full text content:

 Academic Search Premier

 Journals, magazines, newspapers
 Research Library
 Journals, magazines, newspapers
 JSTOR
 Journals
 Criteria for Evaluating
Articles and Websites
1. Accuracy
2. Authority
3. Objectivity
4. Currency
5. Coverage

Available on the Pace Library site:

 Go to Help Section -- Evaluating Resources
 Criteria for Evaluating
Articles and Websites
Accuracy
 Is it reliable and free of errors?

Authority
 What are the author’s qualifications?
 How reputable is the publisher?

Objectivity
 Is the information biased or intended to influence the opinion of the
reader?
 Criteria for Evaluating
Articles and Websites
Currency
 How up-to-date is the information?
 Is there a publication date?

Coverage
 What topics are included?
 Is the content explored in-depth?
 Criteria for Evaluating Websites
“General” Organization of Websites

Domain names:
.gov = government
.edu = educational
.org = nonprofit organizations
.com = commerce/business/for profit
.net = internet business
 Optimize Your Google Search

Google Searching By Domain Names:

.org
.edu
.gov

Search Google News – Advanced Search

 Citing Websites

 MLA guidelines ask for specific pieces of

information, including:

 Author
 “Publisher”
 Date of “publication”
 Date of access
 MLA Format

 See the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers

at the Mortola Library Reference Desk (Ref LB 2369
.G53 2009)

 Visit the guide to Citing Resources on the Pace Library

home page.
 Go to “How Do I …”
 Click on Citing Resources
 Any Questions?
 Locating information?
 Evaluating articles & websites?
 Citing resources using MLA format?

Good Luck with your Research!

Pace Library Home Page: http://library.pace.edu
Mortola Library Reference Desk: 914-773-3505

To Contact Doug Heimbigner:

dheimbigner@pace.edu
http://LibraryPace.blogspot.com