Checklist to Evaluating Web Sites

Increasingly we are dependent upon electronic resources. When books and articles are published, there is always an editor or an editorial board to verify the information. There is no such "watchdog" to check what is published on the Internet - no one to verify if what is posted is true or correct. Anyone can post anything on a web site without having to answer to anyone. This is why it is important that you, the "consumer" of the information be aware and informed about whether a site you are using is a valid resource for your research. Click on the web site below for help in evaluating your source.

Documenting a Research Paper

General

Title page – The title of your essay should be centered in the middle of the page.  In the bottom right corner you must include the following information with each item on a separate line: course code, your name, school name, date. 

(For a sample title page, click here.)

• Type and double-space your paper.
• Submit essays unfolded and stapled together at the top left hand corner.
• Quotation marks should be used to identify short quotations.
• Quotation marks should not be used to apologize for language in formal essay writing (eg. That is a “corny” rule).
• Every period is followed by two (2) spaces and a comma by one (1) space.

Numbering

• The title page and table of contents are not counted or labeled in the page numbering system.  The first page of text is counted but not labeled.  Pages of the text from the second page on are counted and labeled (eg. 2, 3, 4, etc.)   The appendices and works cited pages are not labeled.
• Number all pages with Arabic numerals (eg. 2, 3, 4, etc.) in the middle, bottom or top right-hand corner of the page without punctuation.

Documentation

• You must accurately document the sources used so that the reader will know the origin of the information.  Essentially, documentation means giving credit.  By citing sources, you acknowledge those places where you draw from other people’s work in order to reinforce your own opinion.  Also, clear documentation enables the reader to locate your external sources for themselves.

Plagiarism

• Plagiarism is the act of passing off someone else’s writing as your own; it can take many forms.  The worst type, of course, is submitting an essay written in whole or in part by another person.  The copying of a short passage, without quotation marks.   Constitutes plagiarism.  A plagiarized paper will result in a mark of zero on the essay.  Plagiarism is theft.  Plagiarism is copying.  Plagiarism is the failure to acknowledge borrowed material.  Plagiarism is illegal, immoral and punishable (usually by failure, in some colleges by expulsion and in the business world by legal action).  (Coggins 32)


Consequences for Plagiarism:  The following will apply for students who have plagiarized an assignment:

• The parent/guardian will receive a telephone call notifying her/him of the plagiarism and the student will receive a mark of zero for the assignment.
• Paraphrasing is representing the author’s thoughts and ideas in your own words.  This also constitutes plagiarism unless the author is acknowledged.  When paraphrasing you must introduce the material (eg. …according to Smith,…)  So that the reader knows where the cited information begins.  Do not use quotation marks.  End the paraphrased section with a parenthetical citation.
• Sometimes you will include in your writings information that is understood to be common knowledge (for example, the fact that World War II ended in 1945).  In this case, you do not need to cite a source.  However, what is held to be common knowledge in your Religious Studies class may not be common in History or English; there may even be discrepancies between different courses within a given discipline.  Use your classroom experience as a guide.  If a piece of information would be understood without a reference in a classroom discussion, consider it common knowledge.  If in doubt, cite your source.

Citation

There are three methods of citation:

1. Parenthetical or In-text
2. Footnote
3. Endnote

Be sure to consult your subject teacher about which style is preferred.

For further clarification on documentation refer to :

www.apastyle.org / www.owl.english.purdue.edu

Please note: Sources obtained from an educational database (e.g. e-library, EBSCO) are not cited as internet sources. Cite this entry as per the citation rules for the format of the original source (e.g. newspaper/periodical/television program).

At the end of the citation, you must include two additional pieces of information:

1) access date 2) Address of the database from which the source was obtained.

Sleek, Scott. "Blame your peers, not your parents." Maclean's, April 27, 2004. 4 January 2006

<www.elibrary.bigchalk.com/ca>

Parenthetical Citation

At the end of a quotation or a paraphrased section include, in brackets, the author’s name and the page of the information cited or paraphrased as follows:
“I wish this parenthetical citation was around in my day”
  (Einstein, p. 15)
If you are citing the same author but a different work then include a key word of the title to identify it as follows:
“With parenthetical citation you don’t have to bother with footnotes or endnotes”
  (Einstein, Life’s Regrets, p.25)
You may mention the author’s name in your sentence, include the page number at the end and in so doing credit the author correctly as follows:
According to Einstein, “life is cool” (p. 12)
These parenthetical references supply enough information to identify the corresponding entry in the works cited list, which provides full publication information.

Works Cited

(Please check with your teacher for their preferred style of documentation.)

MLA STYLE:

The sources used in your paper are listed on a separate page at the very end of your paper.  Double space between the title, Works Cited, and the first entry. List only those works that you actually use.  Do not “pad” the list with works that are not quoted or paraphrased or documented in your essay.  This is a form of dishonesty that falls just short of plagiarism and calls  for a deduction of marks.

Sources must be listed alphabetically by the AUTHOR’S last name.  When the author’s name is unknown, the TITLE of the book is used.

Begin each entry flush with the left margin, and if it runs more than one line, indent the subsequent line or lines five spaces from the left margin.  Put two spaces after each period.
Double-space between the each entry.

Following are samples of sources from which you may gather information and the accepted format to use when listing them in your works cited.
The title must be underlined or in italics.

Books

One Author

Green, Walter Henry.  The Hanoverians.  London: Edward Arnold
Publishing, 1948.

Two Authors and a Numbered Edition

Stunk, William Jr. and E.G. White.  The Elements of Style.  3rd Edition
            New York: MacMillan Publishing Company, 1999.

Three or More Authors

Jones, David et al.  Capitals of the World.  London: Convention Press, 2001

Editor

Smith, Simone, ed., The Novels of Charles Dickens, New York: Oriole
            Books, 1990.

Encyclopedia

Sokolsky, Wallace.  “Empire.” Encyclopedia Britannica. 2000.

Periodical

Journal

Cole, D.J. “Canada’s Imperialists,” Journal of Canadian Studies.
            V. Peterborough, Trent University Press, Sep. 1995.

Magazine

Evans, Jane.  “Memories of Tibet,” Weekend Magazine.
            March 16, 1992.

Newspaper – Signed Article

Hayes, Jeremy.  “Greenland in Transition”.  The Manchester Mail.
            June 6, 2000.

Non-Printed Sources

Interview

Michaels, Louis.  President, Hamilton and District Chamber of
            Commerce.  Personal interview.  Jan 15, 2001.

Film

The African Queen.  Producer: Sam Speigal.  Director: John Huston.
            Film Horizon Romulus Productions, 1951.

Television Program

Barker, Joel.  Paradigms of Success.  Television Program.  Los Angeles:
            NBC. Mar. 21, 2001.

Video Recording

Nash, Knowlton.  “Toronto Blue Jays”.  CBC-TV News in Review.
            Video Recording.  Toronto, CBC Educational Sales.  1992.

Internet With Author

Correct, Johnny.  Grammar Fun. Apr. 22, 2001.

CD or CD ROM

Question, Mark.  “Why Me?”.  Powerful Punctuation.  CD ROM.
            Oshawa: Cardinal & Hass Records, 2001.

E-Mail

Marmion, D. “Window Matters:.  Meck Journal: An Electronic
            Monthly.  E-Mail: Online – May 5, 2001.

The following is a sample works cited page:

The African Queen.  Producer: Sam Spiel.  Director: John Huston.
            Film Horizon Romulus Productions, 1951.

Cole, D.J. “Canada’s Imperialists,” Journal of Canadian Studies.
            V. Peterborough, Trent University Press, Sep. 1995.

A History of Space Exploration. June 15, 1995.

Jones, David et al.  Capitals of the World.  London: Convention Press, 2001.

Michaels, Louis.  President, Hamilton and District Chamber of
            Commerce.  Personal interview.  Jan 15, 2001.

 Question, Mark.  “Why Me?”.  Powerful Punctuation.  CD ROM.
            Oshawa: Cardinal & Hass Records, 2001.

Sokolsky, Wallace.  “Empire.” Encyclopedia Britannica. 2000.

Stunk, William Jr. and E.G. White.  The Elements of Style.  3rd Edition
            New York: MacMillan Publishing Company, 1999.