More research guides
Or use these related research guides:
Coggle
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CoggleCoggle is a free online tool for concept mapping/webbing that can help you organize your thoughts digitally as you research historical and social context of the assigned novels. Select text to add hyperlinks to resources you've found about these topics.
Linking to library resources? Be sure to use the Permalink and not the dynamic URL.
Need Help?
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How-To VideosLearn how to navigate and use library resources, including searching, citing, saving, and requesting materials.
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Research ToolkitResearch Toolkit workshops are designed to address the most common challenges students face in doing college-level research, including navigating databases, locating relevant sources, and making sense of information once it is found.
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Citing Your SourcesThis guide refers you to websites and print books that will help you figure out how to cite your sources in several different styles.
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Research GuidesResearch Guides serve as a starting point for those interested in subject-specific resources.
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Ask A LibrarianAsk questions via chat, email, or schedule an appointment with your subject librarian.
Identifying Quality Information
Below is a list of videos, handouts, and websites that can help you evaluate information and sources.
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Video: All About Peer Review by CSUDH Library"Scholarly articles typically communicate original research or analysis for other researchers, and go through a peer review process before they are published by an academic journal. This brief video takes a closer look at that process and addresses some of its limitations."
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Infographic: How to Spot Fake News"IFLA has made this infographic with eight simple steps (based on FactCheck.org’s 2016 article How to Spot Fake News) to discover the verifiability of a given news-piece in front of you." -- IFLA
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eBook Chapter: Evaluating Sources Using the SIFT Model"One of the biggest challenges that writers face is finding credible sources. Mike Caulfield created the SIFT acronym to describe four moves that writers should make to evaluate their sources."
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Video: Evaluating Websites - ABCDFor tips on using the ABCD method to evaluate websites, watch this video from the Cuyahoga Community College Libraries.
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PDF Handout: Does it pass the CRAAP test?CRAAP is an acronym for a variety of questions you can ask yourself about whether you should use information. It stands for: Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy & Purpose. You should get in the habit of asking these types of questions about information before you use it.
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Video: Evaluating Sources by Western UniversityWatch this brief video on for more information on evaluating sources using the CRAAP method.
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Research Guide: Evaluating Information - STAAR MethodCreated by the Librarians at the University of South Carolina Upstate.
Compare Coverage
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Ted BundyEntry in The Social History of Crime and Punishment in America: An Encyclopedia
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Ted BundyReddit thread
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Ted BundyNew York Times Archive 1978
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Ted Bundybiography.com article
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Ted Bundymurderpedia.org entry
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Ted BundyFBI / Freedom of Information Act
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Ted BundySerial Killers podcast episode 9 Ted Bundy Part 1, April 2, 2017
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Ted BundySerial Killers podcast episode 10 Ted Bundy Part 2, April 2, 2017
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Conversations with a Serial Killer: The Ted Bundy TapesNetflix documentary
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Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and VileVariety magazine review of 2019 Joe Berlinger film with Zac Efron
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Tracking a MurdererSample spreadsheet you can use to compare details from sources.
Find Background Information
Often, you'll discover the right level of focus as you begin your research. Encyclopedias and dictionaries can be a great place to start this research. Use these resources to get topic ideas or for background information.
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Gale Virtual Reference LibrarySearch hundreds of scholarly, subject-specific reference titles in many topic areas, including the arts, business, education, history, the sciences, technology, literature, and the social sciences. Excellent for in-depth overviews of terms or concepts. Search individual e-books or whole collections.
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Sage ReferenceSearch and read entries from over one hundred social science and science specialized reference encyclopedias published by Sage.
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Oxford English DictionaryAuthoritative record of words in the English language. Includes definitions, word origins, and quotations showing the range of word meanings from the time they entered the language to the present.
Search for Books
Use the links below to search for titles in the Wright State University Catalog and the OhioLINK Catalog.
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WSU Library CatalogSearch the Wright State University library collection of books, music recordings, musical scores, journal titles, DVDs, archives, streaming videos, maps, government documents and more.
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OhioLINK CatalogOhioLINK is the state-wide academic library partnership - you can have books sent to Dunbar or Lake Campus from other academic libraries across the state.
Check out these video tutorials for assistance on searching the catalogs and placing an item on hold:
Catalogs, Databases, and Search Engines
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Academic Search CompleteGet full-text access to magazines, newspapers, and scholarly journals in the sciences, social sciences, business, education, and the humanities. Full-text may be available via Find-It. Useful place to begin broad searches for general topics.
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Library databases by subject area/disciplineBrowse the subjects and find recommended databases.
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Google ScholarIndexes research literature across a wide range of disciplines and formats. Use the library connection to gScholar to get more attached full-text articles.
Snopes
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SnopesGeneral fact-checking website
Fact-Checking Resources
Use these nonpartisan resources to check facts and educate yourself.
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Media Literacy and Fact CheckingCheck out our full guide on fact checking strategies and techniques.
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FactCheck.orgFrom their web site: "We are a nonpartisan, nonprofit “consumer advocate” for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics."
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Washington Post's Fact CheckerFrom their web site: "We will seek to explain difficult issues, provide missing context and provide analysis and explanation of various “code words” used by politicians, diplomats and others to obscure or shade the truth."
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Politifact.comFrom their web site: "PolitiFact is a fact-checking website that rates the accuracy of claims by elected officials and others who speak up in American politics."
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PunditFactA spin-off of PolitiFact, PunditFact checking the accuracy of claims by pundits, columnists, bloggers, political analysts, the hosts and guests of talk shows, and other members of the media.
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Ballotpedia's Fact Checking ProjectBallotpedia Staff evaluate claims made by politicians of all backgrounds and affiliations, subjecting them to the same objective and neutral examination process. The focus is always on the claim, not the individual.
Questions? Ask your librarian!
Ask A Librarian
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