ENGL 1100 for STEM majors - Joan Petrusky: Web Sources

Evaluating Information Guide

Five speech bubbles, each containing one word. Left to right, the bubbles read "Who? What? When? Where? Why?"

When using research material from the Internet, it's up to you to determine if you're using a credible source. Use this library handout to evaluate web sources by asking who, what, when, where, and why. 

Google Scholar

Use Google Scholar for a preliminary search.  Don't forget to check the library and library databases for titles you may find through Google Scholar! Many scholarly works still remain unavailable on the web.

Customize Google Scholar on Your Own Computer

As a currently enrolled Columbus State student, you can customize your computer at home to locate and access full-text, scholarly articles available to you.  Here are the directions:

  • Go to https://scholar.google.com/
  • Click on Settings.
  • Click on Library Links and type in Columbus State Community College, and Save.  You'll need to allow your computer to accept 3rd party cookies for this to work.

Off-campus, you'll be asked for your name and cougar ID to access the full-text.  On campus, a Google Scholar search shall link you directly to the full-text articles, if available.

 

Scientific Writing and Science Writing

Duke University's Scientific Writing Web Resource defines scientific writing and science writing as follows:

Scientific writing is technical writing by a scientist, with an audience of peers -- other scientists. For example, journals like Nature and Science publish... scientific writing.

Science writing is writing about science for the popular media. The audience is much more general -- anyone with an interest in science. Science writing is published in Scientific American or Discover Magazine, or even National Geographic.

Science Writing

Many publications that offer the world's best science writing are now available online. Check out the following links for examples of articles from around the web:

Other Search Options

Try a search using:

  • site:.gov followed by your search words or phrases to locate U.S. government resources.
  • site:.ohio.gov or site:.oh.us followed by your search words or phrases to locate material from Ohio's government resources
  • site:.org followed by your search words or phrases to locate resources from organizations.
  • site:.edu followed by your search words or phrases to locate resources from colleges or universities

Tips:

  • Search Google using essential words or phrases (more than one word)
  • Place words in phrases inside quotation marks
  • Don't use: of, in, a, or the; these are ignored by search engines
     

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