Can you trust the information in a Poll?  Even by the BBC?  Just ask poor Socks - aka Cookie
See
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7005053.stm for details

Library Research for JO205
"Writing for Media I"


 Instructor Allison Cleary


Library Hours
bullet Reference Hours - M-Th: 9am-10pm, F: 9-5, Sat: 12-4, Sun: 2-8pm
bullet Guest Speaker:
 Steve Burks
Office: Library 210
Phone: 654-2354
sburks@smcvt.edu

 


Coverage

* - New database - Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center
An online library of current event topics: the facts as well as the arguments of each topic's proponents and detractors. An online library of current event topics: the facts as well as the arguments of each topic's proponents and detractors. Draws on the social issues print series published by Greenhaven Press, as well as core reference content from other Thomson Gale and Macmillan Reference USA sources, plus more than 40 major newspapers and newsmagazines.


Databases - All SMC Library Databases may be found @ Alphabetical List of Databases -   See Databases Listed by Subject for subject databases

*Current print issues of the New York Times and Wall Street Journal are at the Circulation Desk.  Other newspapers like the Boston Globe are available on the Library Main Floor

Newspapers

Full Text Newspapers

Ethnic NewsWatch

Infotrac Custom Newspapers

LexisNexis Academic   - also Roper Opinion Polls available

Los Angeles Times (1985-present)

New York Times Current (1980-present)

New York Times Online (1851-2001)

ProQuest National Newspapers

Wall Street Journal Current (1984-present ) 

Wall Street Journal Historical (1889-1987)

Washington Post Current (1980-present)

Washington Post Historical (1889-1987)


Online Newspapers

Burlington Free Press

Rutland Herald

Times Argus (Barre/Montpelier)
 

Newspaper Indexes

Alternative Press Index and 
Alternative Press Index Archive

Burlington Free Press / Rutland Herald Index

New York Times Online (1851-2001)

ProQuest National Newspapers

Infotrac Custom Newspapers

  • The Defender 
    Back issues are found in the Library Special Collections Room or Archives.  Some articles are available online through Lexis-Nexis
     
  • AccuNet/AP MultimediaArchive
    Images, sound, and full-text electronic library containing the Associated Press current year's photo report and a selection of images from their negative and print library.1826 to the present

Which newspapers/journals are full-text and what database
 

Search for LIS Journal Title Holdings (Print and Electronic) in the SMC Online Catalog

 

Search Tips

  • Enter the journal title in exact order. Exclude initial articles: the, a, la, el, etc. : atlantic monthly, boston globe, journal of accountancy
  • Use to find periodicals (journals, magazines, newspapers, etc.): 
  • Right-hand truncation can save keystrokes: journal of organiza
  • Enter title of periodical, not title of the article in the periodical

Search for Full Text Journals found in SMC  Databases 

Go to Ejournals A-to-Z .  You may search for full text journals found in databases like Lexis-Nexis, Ebscohost Academic Premiere, InfoTrac Onefile, and more


Finding Obituaries
  • For recent deaths - back to the 1970's, Go to LexisNexis  or an index listed above and do a keyword search
    - Example  --  obituar* and Richard Nixon
  • For deaths prior to 2003- Use the New York Times Online (1851-2003)

Finding Editorials or Opinion pieces
  • For recent Editorials - back to the 1970's Go to LexisNexis  or an index listed above and do a keyword search
    - Example -- Nafta and editorial  , Nafta and oped, Nafta and opinion
  • For Editorials prior to 2003- New York Times Online (1851-2003)
  • Roper Polls - go to LexisNexis Academic   - go to Lexis - choose Reference / Polls

Evaluating Information - Internet and other sources
Authority: To determine the authority of the source, ask yourself who is the author of this article-is this person a reporter, a student, an educator, a researcher, a scholar, an expert in the field. Sometimes information about the author will be provided. Otherwise, you may need to explore this question further in the library or with your instructor.
 
Timeliness or currency: When was the article, book, video or Internet source written or produced? Does it matter in regard to your research paper?
 
Scholarship: Does the presentation of information measure up to your expectation? Is the language and writing appropriate for your purpose? Is there a bibliography which demonstrates that the information presented came from reliable sources?
 
Focus: Does the source you have located address your specific topic? Is the coverage of the material too general to be worth reading for the topic at hand?
 
Objectivity: Is the material written from a biased point of view? Is the author writing to persuade you or to inform you?
Other resources which discuss evaluation criteria are:

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly:
or, Why It's a Good Idea to Evaluate Web Sources
http://lib.nmsu.edu/instruction/evalcrit.html

"Evaluating Information - Applying the CRAAP Test."
www.csuchico.edu/lins/handouts/eval_websites.pdf 

Checking Internet Hoaxes and URLs

Urban Legends and Folklore:  http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/blhoax.htm

Don't Spread that Hoax:  www.nonprofit.net/hoax/default.htm

Scambusters:  www.scambusters.org

Snopes:  www.snopes2.com

Computer Incident Advisory Capability:  http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org

Check Domain:  www.checkdomain.com

Cybersquatting and Internet Address and Domain Name Disputes:  www.eff.org/pub/Intellectual_property/Internet_address_disputes


Questions - try to answer the following
1. Find an obituary of Richard Nixon from a major newspaper

2. Find an Editorial or Opinion piece (Op-Ed) on NAFTA from a major newspaper back in 1995.

3. Find an Editorial or Opinion piece (op-ed) on NAFTA from an ethnic/regional/or alternative newspaper.

4. Which database do you use to research the New York Times during the period of
World War I? (1918-1922)

5. Find an Obituary of Huey Long.

6. Check the domain of www.smcvt.edu  - who is person to contact?   Try another domain url

7. Find an opinion poll on how Americans feel about abortion
Use LexisNexis Academic - Choose Reference and Polls

8. Find an article of the SMC Defender that covers the parking situation on campus.

9. Find a Wall street Journal article covering the 1929 Wall Street crash

10. Find a recent transcript from a major network news broadcast.


Last update - 09/25/2007