Welcome to the Library Research Module for UNIV 1152! If you are enrolled in an in-person section of UNIV 1152, please feel free to review the activities and additional materials.
If you are in an online section of UNIV 1152, you will need to complete each of the following activities.
This is a tutorial that shows you how to begin searching through the library! Make sure to save your certificate of completion for your records!
It is important to keep in mind that you should always keep evaluating the information that you encounter, including before you use it in an assignment! SIFT through the information that you find, and if you'd like a refresher, you can view the tutorial here!
These sites are used by colleges, universities, and other schools. They will often contain reliable research and academic information
Example: https://www.rsu.edu/
These are official government websites. Information on these sites comes from federal, state, or local government sources and can generally be considered reliable.
Examples: https://oklahoma.gov/ | https://www.usa.gov/
Originally intended for non-profit organizations, this domain is now available to anyone. While many reliable non-profits use it (like the Red Cross), the cost to have a .org website domain is approximately $10 a year, so ensure that you maintain an extra critical eye on the information that you find there.
Consider asking yourself questions like: Is this organization heavily established? Do they have content that looks reliable? Can I fact check the information that they provide me?
Examples: https://wikipedia.org/ | https://web.archive.org/
This is the most common domain and is used by businesses and commercial ventures. The information on these sites may be biased toward selling a product or service, so it's essential to take a very close look at the information that they offer before you accept it at face value.
Examples: https://google.com/ | https://amazon.com/
This domain was originally for network providers but is now a general-purpose domain. It can be used by almost anyone, so you should be very careful when evaluating these sites.
Examples: https://cnet.net/ | https://https://www.speedtest.net/
Primary sources are original materials that offer a firsthand, direct look at a topic or event. They are created by someone who was there or was directly involved. This includes things like original documents, personal letters, diaries, interview transcripts, speeches, photographs, and raw data from research or surveys.
Secondary sources are a step away from primary sources because they are created by someone who is interpreting or analyzing the original information. They often use and reference primary sources, but they add their own layer of commentary. Examples include most books, articles, or documentaries that review a topic without being a direct, firsthand account.
