Topic outline

  • COURSE INTRODUCTION

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    • Time: 7 hours
    • Free Certificate
    This course will help you use information ethically by evaluating your sources to ensure you are selecting the most accurate, credible, and relevant information for your project, whether you are writing a research paper as part of an academic program, compiling research for a business report, or writing a magazine or journal article. When evaluating information, you should consider its currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose. The information you choose and utilize to support your writing reflects well or poorly on you since your audience judges whether you are a thorough academic researcher, reliable contract employee, or credible journalist.

    We begin in Unit 1 by reviewing the research process to better understand what you can expect and will need to complete to be a successful researcher. In Unit 2, you will understand how to evaluate the sources you found as part of the research process and apply specific evaluation methods. Unit 3 will expand your understanding of assessing information, focusing on websites. In Unit 4, you will learn how to integrate your research and the sources you have found into your writing ethically, including citing your sources.