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Fall '25 - ENGL 1301 - Mackovic - by Kara Dixon: Finding Sources

Types of Sources

[icon of kindle reading device] Books and eBooks: Full-length works in print or digital format that can be borrowed or accessed online through the library. They are often used for deep reading, narrative fiction, or exploring historical and topical subjects at length, either in hand or on a device.  [image of encyclopedias] Reference: Print or online resources like encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks, or manuals that provide quick, authoritative facts or summaries. Typically used for verifying information or gaining an overview of a topic, they are meant for consultation rather than cover-to-cover reading.

[icon of magazines on shelves] Magazines: Periodicals published regularly in print or online, offering general-interest articles, news, opinions, or entertainment. They often include colorful images and are written for a broad audience, making them useful for current trends and popular topics.  [icon of stacks of newspapers] Newspapers: Daily or weekly publications in print or online that provide up-to-date news, articles, and opinion pieces on current events, local and global issues, and community happenings. Useful for staying informed about recent developments and public discussions. [icon of student at a computer] Academic Journals: Scholarly periodicals featuring peer-reviewed articles written by experts and researchers. Used to share original research, data, and analysis, they are essential for in-depth study of academic and professional fields.

Other types of sources: websites, blogs, videos, podcasts, social media posts, etc.

The Layered Web

“Illustration of ‘The Layered Web’ concept showing three levels: (1) the surface web with ships labeled Google and Bing, fishing for small fish labeled Wikipedia, Twitter, Amazon, News, LinkedIn, and Blogs; (2) the deeper web with larger fish labeled Databases and Academic Journals; and (3) the dark web at the bottom with a giant squid grabbing symbols for Political Dissidents, Illegal porn, Drugs, and Stolen Credit Cards. The right side labels each layer: surface web for social media, blogs, online shopping, current news; deep web for research articles and academic information; and dark web for hidden content.”

Databases

Some databases you may already use: Amazon, Netflix, Spotify, Gmail.  Elements of ACC Library databases: Scholarly sources, 144 databases, organized alphabetically or by subject, build in tools.

Class Poll

Where do you usually start your research?
Google it!: 94 votes (18.76%)
Library website: 5 votes (1%)
Straight to Wikipedia: 24 votes (4.79%)
AI: 1 votes (0.2%)
Reddit: 343 votes (68.46%)
Books, magazines and other print materials: 1 votes (0.2%)
Professional journals: 1 votes (0.2%)
Social media: 32 votes (6.39%)
Total Votes: 501

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