This document provides instructions for a bridge research project. Students will choose one of five bridges to research representing three major bridge categories: beam, arch, and tension/cable-stayed. Students must find specified information from at least three sources - a book, video, and website. They will cite sources using MLA format and create a bibliography. The document reviews how to evaluate website sources and provides criteria to determine if a site is authoritative, current, reliable, and relevant. It also covers using Boolean operators to search more efficiently.

1. Bridges Research Project

2. You will choose one of five bridges representing the three major categories of bridges. *Beam – Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Arch – Sydney Harbor Bridge Tension – Golden Gate Bridge (suspension) Brooklyn Bridge (suspension) Millau Viaduct (cable-stayed) *Scotland’s Firth of Forth may be added as a beam bridge option.

3. - You will have to find specified information, indicated on the Bridge Research Form, from at least three different types of sources (places you found information) – a book, a video, and an internet site.

4. - You will make a copy of the portions you used from each source. - You will highlight the information you got from the source. - You will write a citation (written credit to the author) for each source which will be used to write a bibliography (list of citation of sources) later.

5. Citation You must give credit (cite)when ever you use someone’s exact words OR even their opinions/ideas! Not giving credit is plagiarism and it is not only dishonest, but also illegal!

6. Citation Styles There are several formats for writing citations and they are changed frequently. Make sure you use the latest version and the one your teacher asks you to use! MLA – Modern Language Association, usually used when writing about language or literature (we will use this) APA - American Psychological Association, usually used when writing about science related topics Chicago – used for a broad range of topics including language, literature, and science Others - http://www.solidwriters.com/the-bakers-dozen-citation-styles.html

7. I have video sources for each of these bridges. You must come after school on the viewing days for your bridge, or make other arrangements IN ADVANCE with me to view it at another time. “I forgot I had a game,” or “I had something else to do,” are not acceptable reasons for not viewing your video!

8. - Each source citation is a test grade. - Your Bridges Research Form is also a test grade. - You will keep all of your Bridge Research products in a manila envelope which will be kept in the classroom. This envelope will be given to your English teacher upon completion for use in your English class next six weeks.

9. - You will evaluate each internet source to ensure that it is a reliable source. (For example, you may not use blogs, Ask.com, or Wikipedia-type websites because anyone can edit them.) Wikipedia.com

10. Evaluating a Website Ask yourself, “Is this website…?” AUTHORITATIVE CURRENT RELIABLE RELEVANT

11. AUTHORITATIVE ** REMEMBER – ANYONE CAN PUBLISH ON THE WEB!!**

12. 1. Look at the domain suffix. Commercial – someone is trying to make money .com .net .biz Beware! Look for bias (strong opinion for or against a viewpoint) and verify information in other sources. Non-commercial organization – for example, a charity or professional organization .org Better than commercial but still check for bias.

13. Educational – schools and universities .edu .ac Usually reliable but be careful that you are not looking at student assignments. Verify the authority (knowledge and experience) of the author! Governmental – local, state or federal site .gov .govt Usually reliable.

14. Personal page – maintained by an individual .(someone’s name) Caution! Check for both bias and authority. *New domain suffixes (generic top-level down domains or GTLD’s) are being created. You can check to see what each means at ICANN (the International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers)

15. 2. Identify the author or sponsor. Normally, the author is identified at the bottom of the first page of a website or check for an “About Us/Me” link. You may have to “google” the author to determine his/her credentials. If the site is sponsored by an organization, what is the reputation of the group? What type of advertisers does it associate with, for example? *If you cannot identify the author/sponsor, DO NOT USE THIS SOURCE!

16. Currency (not money but time) 3. When was the page created and/or updated? This is often found at the bottom of the first page, or check the author info. 4. Is the data up to date (if your topic requires this)? Our topic does not require that data be updated. 5. Are there expired links? This is an indication of a lack of maintenance and currency.

17. RELIABILITY 6. What is the sites purpose? To persuade? - Be careful of bias. To inform? - Most reliable purpose. To entertain/express - Not usually appropriate for research papers. 7. Is there a bibliography link? *Note – this is a good place to find other sources you can use! NO BIBLIOGRAPHY = NO RELIABILITY

18. 8. Are there spelling/grammar mistakes? Be cautious. 9. Are there discrepancies (differences) with other information you have located? You must keep checking reliable sources to determine which source was incorrect!

19. RELEVANT 10. Is this information related to your topic and useful in answering your research questions? Is it repeated information from another source? If so, balance your sources. Get some information from one, and some from another.

20. The Ten Things to Look for When Evaluating an Internet Source What type of generic top-level domain indicator (suffix) does it have? Who is the author/sponsor? When was the page created/updated? Is the data current? Are there expired links? What is the site’s purpose? Is there a bibliography? Are there spelling/grammar errors? Are there factual errors? Is this information related to my topic?

21. “Boolean Operators” are commands to help you search more efficiently. + Before a word = Only show sites with this word in them. - Before a word = Do not show sites with this word in them “Words in quotes” = Only show sites with this exact phrase in them - Before “Words in quotes” = Do not show sites with this exact phrase in them