To Use Or Not to Use?

Thinking

My professor says I can't use Web sources for my paper.

Ask your professor to clarify this, because there are basically 'two Webs.' There is the public Web that search engines find, and there's the "invisible Web," Web sources the library buys that only the TCTC community can use. These are usually called databases. 

An article you find using one of our online databases such as Academic Search Premier exists in a journal in print. It's just delivered via the Web by the library to facilitate research.  As we have seen before, these database articles usually do not count as "Internet sources".

Green light

Go with the strengths of the public Web
• to obtain information on colleges, museums, non-profit organizations, or companies
• for very current information such as news, sports scores, weather, stock quotes
• to research a well-known event or individual
• to use online job postings, shopping, auctions, or travel services
• for opinions on a topic

Red light

Stop and think! There are better places to look than the public Web
• to find articles in scholarly journals
• to find articles published in popular magazines
to search databases that provide access to articles in many academic disciplines
to find books on your topic

back
next
Module 5 - Using the Web ContentsModule Choice Terms InputHelpExit