Peer Review

Citing Sources

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Overview:: A short Flash overview using the on-line service Citation Machine. The tutorial presumes some knowledge of the protocols involved in citing materials, particularly books. Underscores compliance with plagiarism concerns. Target populations include middle school through college.
Type of Material:: Flash tutorial.
Recommended Uses:: In class, homework, individual, team, professionals, lecture, etc.
Technical Requirements:: Flash and audio.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: With the assistance of Citation Machine, use the MLA format for books, journals, images, and other types of information resources. Emphasizes that Plagiarism is a crime: be sure to give credit where credit is due. This website is divided into four sections: popular citation styles, title pages, plagiarism checker, and citation guides.
Target Student Population:: Middle school through college; professionals.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: Computer skills; Flash and audio on computers; understanding of the components of determining and attributing elements of a resource such as author, complete title, edition, publication date, url, etc.

Rating:
Strengths:: Emphasis on both print and non-print materials. Explanation of creating a bibliography or citation list. Demonstrates how to determine the properties of an image. Both this presentation and Citation Machine are attributed to Creative Commons. This presentation is listed with Next Vista for Learning - a library of free videos made by and for learners and teachers. anywhere.
Concerns:: The Citation Machine demonstrated is from 2007. The 2011 version of Citation Machine includes many new formats which may need to be explained to some users. Examples include formats such a DOI (Digital Object Identifier).

Rating:
Strengths:: At less that 5 minutes in length, the presentation makes both the technique of citing appropriately in MLA format and the issue of plagiarism easily understood.
Concerns:: With the advent of many new formats, a few more mentions of newer formats that must also be cited would be helpful.Assumes knowledge of or prior instruction in citing materials used in research.

Rating:
Strengths:: Presentation is easy to understand; instructions are clear.
Concerns:: Limited information on citing newer formats such as podcasts; university digital records, and the like.

Other Issues and Comments:: The five year difference between the time of creation of this video and today omits many formats that to a newer generation might not be apparent as to their need for citations. With the incorrect concept that "all information is free" or "everyone just knows it," the concept of citing newer formats might not be as apparent. There is no mention of how to cite materials within the document itself.
Creative Commons: