Advantages of Using the Internet for Scholarly Research:

• There is accurate and reliable information on the Internet
• Some information on the Internet is appropriate for academic research

Disadvantages of Using the Internet for Scholarly Research:

• Not all information is available on the Internet
• Much of the information is not scholarly and should not be used for an academic assignment
• Some information on the Internet is not accurate and reliable
• There are sometimes so many results that it is hard to choose which source to use

Tips for Using Web Resources and Search Engines Effectively:

• It is crucial that you critically evaluate any Web resource before using it for an assignment.  See Checklist for Evaluating Internet Sites (PDF)
• Take advantage of the Advanced Search options of search engines to construct your search
• Learn techniques about searching in the Help, Tips, or About sections of search engines
• Modify your search criteria to obtain better and fewer results
• Use more than one search engine - different search engines return different results
• Contact a librarian for assistance
  • Reference Desk -- 410-777-2456 -- refdesk@aacc.edu
  • Distance Learning Librarian -- 410-777-2216 -- DLLibrarian@aacc.edu

Take Advantage of Reliable Electronic Resources Chosen by the Library:

• Electronic reference books – available by searching the library Catalog or Databases pages
• Articles from
  • Scholarly journals
  • Magazines
  • Newspapers
  • Other sources
• You need to have an AACC Library Card to access the databases. If you are taking distance education courses (online, telecourse, or courses not held on the Arnold campus) you can apply for a Library Card online.

Learn More by Trying One of these Tutorials:

• How to do Research on the Internet - Monash University Library (Australia)
• Searching the World Wide Web - Purdue University
• Finding Information on the Internet - UC Berkeley Library

Cite the Internet Correctly:

• MLA Style
• APA Style
• Citing Sources (for more information)

If you have questions or need assistance, call the reference desk at 410-777-2456 or send e-mail to refdesk@aacc.edu. You may also contact the Distance Learning Librarian at 410-777-2216 or e-mail DLLibrarian@aacc.edu.

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