Assignment: Finding Web Sources

The general web is always there, with millions of hits and unseen search algorithms that calculate your previous searches and the types of information the search engine thinks you're most likely interested in. While these unseen search aids are often quite helpful when online shopping or exploring a hobby, they can negatively impact academic research, leaving the researcher unaware of how they came to their results. Today, we'll return to an old method of making good use of the general web and explore Google's new-ish attempt at entering the academic research marketplace.

Finding Stakeholder Voices: Books and Databases are great source of quality information, but they often leave us missing key stakeholder voices in social issues. When exploring the general web, it's often wise to consider the stakeholder voices you've got and what stakeholder voices you might need.

1. List the names of any associations, organizations, or branches of government your previous research has revealed or that you think might have an interest in your topic. (Not sure if you have any, review your previous materials and check the Research Proposal.)

2. Do a few targeted searches and find two - three websites from various stakeholders that you might use to create annotated bibliography entries. While some of these .org and even .gov sources might be biased, they might offer a relevant and needed perspective on an issue. Copy (ctrl + c) and paste (ctrl + v) the URLs for those websites below.

Meet Google Scholar: Google is a pretty big company these days, but it still has a desire to corner the market on their primary business venture: search. Recognizing that there was a whole field of internet searches that did not use their basic search tools, Google created a new search tool to approximate academic needs.

1. Access Google and type "scholar" into the search bar. Click on the Google Scholar link. Describe what you see?

It is a searching page, but more for articles and trusted work.

2. What does Google Scholar most resemble?

An article that could not be found on the regular google.

3. Does Google Scholar have something similar to Advanced Search? (Place your cursor over the downward facing triangle in the search bar.)
Yes, it gives more specific information such as, what kind of articles you looking at.

4. Search for something. Write the search term(s) you used below:

5. How can you narrow search results in Google Scholar (using the left-hand column)?

By choosing what kind of article you looking for

6. Search for a few minutes. Describe at least one drawback of Google Scholar.

7. Select one website, webpage or web-accessed document to summarize for the Annotated Bibliography. In around 300 words, articulate a "big picture" assertion-telling what the source is about/accomplishes, overall. Also explain major "key points" from the source that help the summary to be more thorough or clear. A 200-word TRAAP-driven evaluation should follow.

A copy of this annotated bibliography entry should be included in your research journal.

8. You will need to find additional web sources to complete your project.