Library Research.

I believe the hardest part of doing research is when the research topic is unfamiliar to me. Usually, having some background knowledge on the subject is very useful and helps to speed up the research process. However, when the subject is really unclear or complex, such as Japanese nuclear power plants and their effect on the Japanese government, for example, it makes it difficult to produce a well organized paper or report.
Sometimes when the subject question is really vague, the end result- whether it be in form of a presentation or a written report- is usually very broad as well. So it is up to the student to try to find an argument they could convey in order to produce a well written paper. Other times, it can be challenging to find good quality sources to use for information on the research assignment. However, I believe I have a fair judgement on which website to trust and therefore this library research class wasn’t very helpful considering I knew all this basic information prior to enrollment in this course. There were some information I found useful from library research such as the outcomes from plagiarizing and how seriously it is taken not only in college but medical school or any education beyond high school, which I found extremely informative because I wasn’t aware incorrect citation can be considered as plagiarizing. I know for sure, I benefited from that lesson as to always cite my sources in all my future course work. I think this class is beneficial for those who aren’t familiar with any library research basics.

The Internet.

“Since everything is on the Internet, I don’t need books..right?” No. You need books more than the Internet. I cannot put enough emphasis on how incorrect this question is. That’s like thinking watching movies is better than reading the book. Personally, I don’t believe in that because I feel that books are so much more accurate. And based off experience, I have never watched a movie that was as accurate as the book. Its the same way with the Internet as well. Things online are based off of books. Just like movies, that information you find online may not always be accurate.
First off, not everything on the Internet is true nor reliable. Say you’re working on a research project that includes finding serious information on a specific topic. While the Internet is easily accessible with the click of a mouse, books are much more reliable than a blog online. The reason being that information can easily be altered online, whereas it is difficult to change written text (even if it is crossed off with markers or written all over, the information is still there making it challenging to argue against).
Second, information on the web is constantly changing, whether it be correct or not. One should always consider where the information is found. If the information is from a reliable source such as an online library, news websites, or from an accredited university or college, then it would be logical to use. However, if it is found some one’s personal blog, chances are, they are more opinions than facts.
But in general, it is always better to get information from a book than to question the quality of the website.