Title: 11.4 Strategies for Gathering Reliable Information – Writing for Success
Headings: 11.4 Strategies for Gathering Reliable Information
11.4 Strategies for Gathering Reliable Information
Learning Objectives
Locating Useful Resources
Using Primary and Secondary Sources
Finding Print Resources
Writing at Work
Tip
Exercise 1
Tip
Exercise 2
Using Periodicals, Indexes, and Databases
Reading Popular and Scholarly Periodicals
Writing at Work
Consulting a Reference Librarian
Exercise 3
Tip
Finding and Using Electronic Resources
Using Internet Search Engines Efficiently
Using Other Information Sources: Interviews
Tip
Evaluating Research Resources
Determining Whether a Source Is Relevant
Determining Whether a Source Is Reliable
Evaluating Types of Sources
Tip
Evaluating Credibility and Reputability
Checking for Biases and Hidden Agendas
Using Current Sources
Evaluating Overall Quality by Asking Questions
Checklist 11.1
Writing at Work
Exercise 4
Managing Source Information
Keeping Track of Your Sources
Exercise 5
Tip
Taking Notes Efficiently
Use Headings to Organize Ideas
Know When to Summarize, Paraphrase, or Directly Quote a Source
Maintain Complete, Accurate Notes
Use a System That Works for You
Key Takeaways

Content: Often, incorporating research in these documents can make them more effective in informing or persuading readers. Tip
As you gather information, strive for a balance of accessible, easy-to-read sources and more specialized, challenging sources. Relying solely on lightweight books and articles written for a general audience will drastically limit the range of useful, substantial information. On the other hand, restricting oneself to dense, scholarly works could make the process of researching extremely time-consuming and frustrating. Exercise 1
Make a list of five types of print resources you could use to find information about your research topic. Include at least one primary source. Be as specific as possible—if you have a particular resource or type of resource in mind, describe it. To find print resources efficiently, first identify the major concepts and terms you will use to conduct your search—that is, your keywords. These, along with the research questions you identified in Chapter 11 “Writing from Research: What Will I Learn?”,