Resources for Student Researchers TeenTechUniversity, ©2017 Product Description Resources for Student Researchers Thank you for visiting my store and downloading this free resource! Student researchers stay focused and are more successful when we provide structure during the research process. The materials in this resource address three important steps during the research process: evaluating resources, taking notes, and citing the sources that you use. The following materials are included in this download: The 5Ws Source Evaluating Handout or Flyer; PIES Method of Source Evaluation Handout; PIES Source Evaluation Note-Card with Prompts; Citing Websites Using MLA Source Citation (8th edition) Handout with Examples; Source Citation List Handout; Student Research Note-taking Card. Teachers are also provided with an implementation guide with teaching suggestions! This resource is designed for secondary students. TeenTechUniversity, ©2017 Implementation Guide and Teacher Notes Anyone can publish a website! Now, more than ever, students need the ability to select resources that are credible and unbiased. It’s crucial for both students and adults to apply effective information-seeking skills whether we are conducting research, choosing a product to purchase, or searching online for a credible answer to any question! Do your students access the first results they find during online searches? Do they read the information before taking notes? Do they evaluate the resource FIRST and foremost? Most students never really look to see who published the website, evaluate the site’s purpose, note the publication date, or examine the site for possible bias or inaccuracies. The best way to break bad habits is to teach the actual research process in context – i.e. while students are in the process of conducting research for an assignment or project. My suggestion is teach students how to evaluate websites before they actually begin looking for sources. I typically tell students that part of their final grade on a research project will include their selection of credible sources. Source Evaluation: The 5Ws The following materials will help teach students the basics of source evaluation: The 5Ws Handout (Use as a bulletin board flyer, distribute to students to add to their research portfolios or notebooks, print as poster) Review this handout with your students. Explain that every credible site may not have each piece of information listed. Most credible sites, however, will contain the majority of the information includes on the 5Ws Handout. You may want to discuss with students the When section of the 5ws. Some sources with a dated copyright date may be providing inaccurate information – TeenTechUniversity, ©2017 particularly websites providing information re: technology or medical information (diseases, causes, treatments). Due to the nature of these subjects and the rapid advancements being made, the copyright date is very important in evaluating that source. Source Evaluation: The 5Ws Handout Application: After reviewing the information on this handout, students can use their own paper or their devices and start Source Evaluation doc that lists the 5Ws breakdown: Who, What, Where, When, Why You can require students complete the 5Ws for one of their online resources they use during a research assignment or project. Teachers can also locate faux sites online through a simple faux websites or fake sites keyword Google search. Using the fake site, assign the 5Ws source evaluation for them to use and evaluate. An example of a site that teachers can use with students implementing the 5Ws source evaluation is Too much Tofu Induces Brain Aging. This is likely not a credible source due to the publishing date (2008). This can be contrasted with a more current article published in 2016 that cites related sources and research that are much more recent: Tofu: Health Benefits, Facts, and Research TeenTechUniversity, ©2017 Source Evaluation: The PIES Method First, review this information with students. Though a website may seem credible in its appearance, bibliography of sources used, recent updated date or publishing date, includes an author and a means to contact the website owner, etc, it can still be slanted or contain biased information. The two most important facts to consider when evaluating a source for bias include the site’s purpose and the sponsoring organization or publishing company. When the purpose of a site is to sell we all know there’s biased information being presented in order to make the product seem more appealing to site viewers. One lesson I learned early on as a teacher when I first began teaching research skills to students over 22 years ago is the fact that a nonprofit organization can and will present biased content. They have an agenda or purpose for publishing a website. Using the PIES method of evaluation, many nonprofits published online sites in order to persuade the viewer or reader to act. In light of this, they may be presenting information and data that is one-sided. In teaching students to search for bias, as a class access a website to evaluate. Teach students to always examine the site for an About Us section. This section will typically reveal the sponsoring organization or include any mission statements that will help reveal the site publisher’s agenda or beliefs. Applications: Using the PIES evaluation chart, students can evaluate a site for bias. The chart prompts students to look for the sponsoring organization, possible mission statements, and to evaluate the purpose of the website. In order to practice source evaluation using the PIES method, teachers may want to use two websites on the same topic. Suggestion: Students will need three copies of the PIES Source Evaluation chart. TeenTechUniversity, ©2017 Demonstrate to students that organizations can present slanted content on their websites that align with their purpose or agenda. First, select a source that is informational (such as an online encyclopedia), and choose a general article topic. An example that can be used is the topic of animal rights. Ask students to complete the PIES chart using the information online article published by New World Encyclopedia: Animal Rights (http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Animal_rights) Next, ask students to examine two additional sites that include articles on the topic of animal rights: Animal Testing is Bad Science. (https://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-experimentation/animaltesting-bad-science/ ) Sponsoring organization: PETA Then, students can examine a site on the same topic published by a sponsoring organization The Foundation for Biomedical Research– such as the website Animal Research Saves Lives. (https://fbresearch.org/ ) This activity will reinforce with the students the importance of examining all sides of an issue and look for facts, research, and studies that examine all aspects of a topic. The Pros and Cons of Controversial Issues website is another site that can provide to students an example of site that has the purpose of informing. The website always addresses and provides facts, statistics, etc for both sides of a controversial issue. (http://www.procon.org/ ) TeenTechUniversity, ©2017 Implementation Guide and Teacher Notes Resource: Research Notecard The research notecard is a good way to ensure students are able to implementation parenthetical citation when writing research papers. The notecard includes a space for students to cite their sources. By using a note-taking chart such as this one, students are more likely to record key phrases and notes versus copying and pasting an entire article due to a more limited space. If you would like to recreate this digitally, use Google Docs and insert a table with 2 columns and three rows. For the first row, highlight this row only, then right click, and select Merge cells. Repeat this process for the third row and merge cells. This provides the space for students to take notes. Move (drag) the second column to the right (creating a larger left column). This will divide the bottom row and leave enough space for the source citation. You may want to require that students turn in at least one note-taking card with their research assignment or research project. This can be included in a grading rubric under the criteria of research organization. Resource: MLA Source Citation for Websites This guide and sheet will provide your students with the most recent information on how to cite a website in MLA format. An example is included – along with a source citation list that students can use in order to keep track of all the resources they use and will need to include in a works cited page (if required). *The following pages contain the above-referenced resources and materials. TeenTechUniversity, ©2017 Who wrote the pages and are they an expert? Does the site include contact info for the author or organization? What is the purpose of the site? What information is included? What reference sources were used? When was the site created and last updated? Where does the information come from? Why is this information useful for my purpose? Why should I use this information? TeenTechUniversity, ©2017 Recognizing Bias in Digital Resources What it is: The author reveals his point of view or opinions and preferences in his writing or presentation of information How: There are websites that may only present one side of a controversial issue in order to sway your thinking and your actions. Why: Some websites may try to persuade you to think a certain way or convince you to buy a certain product Researching Informational Sites Goal: Even if you research a controversial issue, a site with an author’s bias may not contain information that is accurate or factual. Your research should include websites that are mainly factual and present all sides of an issue or topic. In order to evaluate a digital resource, think about the author’s purpose in writing or publishing. Try the PIES method of evaluating to determine if the website provides content that is factual, unbiased, and balanced. PIES Source Evaluation Author’s Purpose: Persuade Inform Entertain Sell TeenTechUniversity, ©2017 PIES Source Evaluation Card Student’s Name: Date: PIES Source Evaluation Identify the author’s purpose or the purpose of the website. More than one may apply: Persuade ____Inform ____Entertain ____Sell ____ Is this website biased or balanced? ____ Yes ____No Explain why the site is biased or balanced. Consider the site’s information, related links, the website’s purpose, the About Us section or mission statement, and the publishing company. Source URL or Source Citation: TeenTechUniversity, ©2017 Website Source Citation Student’s Name: Research Topic: Website Citation Tips (MLA 8th edition): Tip: If you cannot locate any of the information included in the citation of websites (such as an author’s name), skip the information and continue your citation with the next requirement. Tip: The latest edition of MLA citation recommends that the website address be included in the citation. Omit http:// and https:// in the URL. If the URL. It is acceptable to start a new citation line for website addresses that are lengthy. Author’s Last name, First name. “Title of the Article or Individual Page.” Title of the website, Name of the publisher, Date of publication, URL. Zhou, Li. “The Sexism of School Dress Codes.” The Atlantic, The Atlantic Monthly Group, 20 Oct. 2015, www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2015/10/school-dress-codes-areproblematic/410962/ Source Citation Practice: TeenTechUniversity, ©2017 Website Source Citation Student’s Name: Research Topic: Website Citation Source List Source: Source: Source: Source: TeenTechUniversity, ©2017 Note Card: Key Points, Dates, and Events Topic: Date: My Notes Source Citation TeenTechUniversity, ©2017 Terms of Use Terms of Use Resource: Evaluate and Cite! Handouts for Student Researchers The purchase of this product created and copyrighted by TeenTechUniversity includes a limited license for your classroom and personal use. Please do not upload these resources to the Internet. Any resource in this purchase should not be adapted or modified for commercial use. If you have any questions about this resource, please contact Stacy Elizabeth Holcombe at stacyeholcombe@gmail.com. Thank you for purchasing this resource from Teen Tech University! TeenTechUniversity, ©2017 TeenTechUniversity, ©2017 Interested in purchasing additional resources compatible with Google Drive? Check out the following by selecting the resource cover! TeenTechUniversity, ©2017 Teen Tech University’s Resources for Google Drive, Classroom and G Suite *Please follow me for updates, sales, and new product announcements! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at stacyeholcombe@gmail.com. Don’t forget to rate this product to earn credit for future purchases at ANY Teachers Pay Teachers Store! Thank you again for your purchase~! Stacy E. Holcombe from Teen Tech University Let’s Connect! 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