Skyline College Library

DESIGNING RESEARCH ASSIGNMENTS THAT FOSTER CRITICAL THINKING

Identifying appropriate information sources:

• Skyline Library homepage
  http://skylinecollege.net/library/
  
  
• Understanding the Information Universe: Formats, Sources, and Types
  http://www.smccd.net/accounts/skylib/lsci100/lesson1_3.htm
  
  
• "Types of Periodicals"
  http://www.smccd.net/accounts/skylib/lsci100/lesson6_2.htm
  
  
• "Types of Periodical Articles"
  http://www.smccd.net/accounts/skylib/lsci100/lesson6_4.htm

Evaluating sources:

Websites - see:

• QUICK: The Quality Information Checklist
  http://www.quick.org.UK/menu.htm

OR

• Evaluating Information from Web Pages
  http://skylinecollege.net/library/evaluate.html#web

Books and articles - see:

• "Preliminary Evaluation of a Book or Article"
  http://skylinecollege.net/library/evaluate.html#preeval

OR

• "Critically Analyzing Information Sources" (Cornell University Library)
  http://www.library.cornell.edu/okuref/research/skill26.htm 

For guidelines on creating annotated bibliographies, see:

• "How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography" (Cornell University Library)
  http://www.library.cornell.edu/okuref/research/skill28.htm

 
Superficial vs. Genuine Research

• "Superficial vs. Genuine Research"
  http://www.smccd.net/accounts/skylib/lsci100/lesson2_3.htm
  
  
• "Taking Charge" from William Badke's Research Strategies
  (scroll down to "Finding a Good Question")
  http://www.acts.twu.ca/lbr/chapter1.htm

 
Documentation Styles

• "Citing Sources"
  http://skylinecollege.net/library/citing.html
  
  
• "Bibliographies: MLA Format" (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign)
  http://www.english.uiuc.edu/cws/wworkshop/MLA/bibliographymla.htm
  
  
• "Bibliography Style Handbook: APA" (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign)
  http://www.english.uiuc.edu/cws/wworkshop/bibliography_style_handbookapa.htm

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last revised: 11-18-02 by Dennis Wolbers & Eric Brenner, Skyline College, San Bruno, CA