MC 4313: Advanced Writing for Public Relations.: Web Sites

CHECKLIST FOR EVALUATING A WEB PAGE:

* Identify the author and the author's expertise on the topic.

* Verify the facts, statistics, or quotes on the web page in another source.

* Identify the agenda of the page: are they selling something or promoting a point-of-view that benefits them? 

* Check to see when the page was last updated. If you can't find a date, consider using a different source.

 DO THE ABOVE BECAUSE:

* Most people don't know what they are talking about.

* Many people will make up facts, misrepresent facts, or leave out facts in order to support their position.

* People will tell you anything if money or power is somehow involved.

AND IN THE END:

* Learn to think for yourself and do not rely on gathering other people's opinions posted on the internet. 

It is not necessary to have a subscription to get into these Web sites.

• American Rhetoric: The Power of Oratory in the United States includes speeches, movie speeches, theories, and exercises, rhetorical figures in sound, and more.
• Communication Studies Resources: communication studies portal from the University of Iowa. Includes resources on advertising, cultural studies, digital media, film studies, gender, ethnicity, rhetoric, journalism and media studies.
• Digital Collections and Programs Oral histories, letters, sound recordings, photographs and other primary sources from the Library of Congress
• Federal Communications Commission regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. It was established by the Communications Act of 1934 and operates as an independent U.S. government agency overseen by Congress.
• Methodspace - from the About page: " Methodspace is a multidimensional online network for the community of researchers, from students to professors, engaged in research methods. Sponsored by SAGE, a leading publisher of books and journals in research methods, the site is created for students and researchers to network and share research, resources and debates. Methodspace users have free access to selected journal articles, book chapters, etc which highlight emerging topics in the field."
• Moving Image Archive is a collection of downloadable movies, newscasts, and videos covering topics such as computers and technology, arts and music, animation and cartoons, full-length feature films and more.
• Moving Image Source "The Moving Image Source Research Guide is a gateway to the best online resources related to film, television, and digital media" - from the Moving Image Source website.
• World Wide Cultural E-Resources is an international Culturelink network
• Women's Studies Resources: Communication and Media

Google Scholar can be a useful tool when collecting research information. Settings can be updated to display:

Library Links - FindIt@Txstate
Bibliography Manager - EndNote (refers to Desktop EndNote)