Iternet source for essay writing acceptable?

[RhondaM.]

My ds is about to start working on a history paper for Hewitt. The instructions say to answer the question, 'How closely does the book reflect the time period which is its setting.'

That is all the instructions it gives besides mentioning he can use his textbook and additional reading for reference.

So...looking for a little more direction on this I came upon a site with these directions and site:


After students read through chapter 22 in To Kill a Mockingbird, ask them to read The Scottsboro Boys (http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTrials/scottsboro/scottsb.htm). They can compare and contrast the trial of the Scottsboro Boys and the trial of Tom Robinson.
They can create a chart listing similarities and differences between:
the charges
the accused
the defense
the prosecution
the community response
the outcome
media coverage


They should then write a comparison/contrast thesis-based essayhttp://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTrials/scottsboro/SB_acct.html

There is just a tremendous amount of information to read. I've printed most of it up because I don't want ds spending so much time in front of the computer. (He tends to start goofing off).

So after printing all this stuff I'm wondering if it is acceptable to do research for a highschool essay from an internet source???

Thanks,

[8FillTheHeart]

I only let my kids use online periodicals/newspapers or some online university sites for research. Our library has a a database link to online periodicals that they subscribe to. I do not allow any blogs or "unverifiable" sites. (though, unfortunately most newspapers are trash these days and I am not even really comfortable with them using them as legitimate news sources. :( )

HTH

[Alyce]

In Fact their is a way to show that something came from an internet site if you're using it in you term paper. I don't remember how but she was using MLA so you should be able to show how. I don't see anything wrong with internet use as long as the source is documented properly. There is so much on the internet these days. My dd English teacher did say you had to use at least 2 hard copy sources so that's the way she's done all her papers even in her other classes.

[RhondaM.]

In Fact their is a way to show that something came from an internet site if you're using it in you term paper. I don't remember how but she was using MLA so you should be able to show how. I don't see anything wrong with internet use as long as the source is documented properly. There is so much on the internet these days. My dd English teacher did say you had to use at least 2 hard copy sources so that's the way she's done all her papers even in her other classes.

There seems to be a lot sources within this Scottsboro Trials page. Some of which are exerpts of trials.

The site is part of the Famous Trials page from the UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY (UMKC) SCHOOL OF LAW.

Theactual assignment came from http://international.loc.gov/learn/lessons/98/mock/lesson.html (http://international.loc.gov/learn/lessons/98/mock/lesson.html)
(The Library of Congress: The Learning Page)

I am very unsure how to even do a Bibliography page for this because of all the difference sources/links on the main page! ARGH! I really feel my own lack of education at times like this. Of course when I went to college nearly 20 years ago there was zero instruction on doing anything on the internet. I don't think I even knew it existed back then in those OLDEN days. And I think I had to do an actualy bibliography ONCE. In my entire life. Until now.

Help!? :confused:

[8FillTheHeart]

MLA citation links are readily available to read online. Here are a couple that I have used in the past:

http://www.studyguide.org/MLAdocumentation.htm

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/01/

http://www.aresearchguide.com/12biblio.html

[RhondaM.]

MLA citation links are readily available to read online. Here are a couple that I have used in the past:

http://www.studyguide.org/MLAdocumentation.htm

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/01/

http://www.aresearchguide.com/12biblio.html

Thanks for these. One of them I even actually already had and printed. It has quite a bit of information on how to site the different types of internet sites.

And I'm still scratching my head over it.

I'm sorry to ask for so much help. I am out of state and know noone. Everyone in my homestate is without power due to Ike. My dh is working LATE everynight and I can't get to the library for help or books (to use rather than the internet). And all my books that might help me with this are at home in Texas.

I am in a major bind.

Can someone help me?

What sort of page would you consider this site?
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTrials/scottsboro/SB_acct.html

1.Scholarly journal
or
2. online project, information database, personal or professional website

The instructions for both of these include a DATE, of which there is NOT one on this site.

And then what about this sort of source, how would I do it?
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTrials/scottsboro/price.html
It is an excerpt from part of the trial.

I'll be forever thankful for whatever help you can offer.

[RhondaM.]

Never mind. I got it.

[LibrarianMom]

At the college where I work, many teachers indicate students may use one internet only site. The qualification of internet only allows students to use resources from online databases and other resources that were originally in print. This also allows students to include some of the many primary sources and archival items that area available on the internet. We really emphasize that for college papers you have to use scholarly articles.