In this chapter you will learn how to find and evaluate information for

your study. This chapter provides you with information on starting points
for finding out more information sources available from the university
library and the Internet. It also provides guidance on evaluating
information sources.
 Part 1
Reading Preparation
Task 1
Answer the following questions briefly.
1. When your teachers ask you to find information on certain topics, what do you do

to find it?

2. Do you read books, reports, or journals?

3. Do you go to the library?

4. Do you search it in the Internet?

5. Do you ever question whether the information is valid or not?

6. What skills do you need to find valid information for your study?

7. Find the meaning of the following phrases.

Phrases Indonesian translation

Information sources available

Printed information sources

Advanced information skills

Reliable and credible academic

information sources

Effective internet searchers

Sophisticated internet searching

Doubtful quality

Unreferenced articles

Proper reference for materials obtained

through the Internet

A physical enquiry desk

Distribute information

Disseminate information

Google scholar

Part 2
Reading Practice

Task 2
Open the next page and r
carefully.
Task 3
Comprehension Questions
A. Based on the reading passage in Task 2, state whether the statement is true
(T) or false (F)

1. Students need information skills for their study. T / F

2. Information sources should be evaluated for credibility. T / F

3. You can trust all the information available on the Internet. T / F

4. Wikipedia is a credible information source for an academic study. T / F

5. Googling skill is not enough for an academic study. T / F

6. We do not need to check information from the Internet. T / F

7. Information for an academic study should be up-to-date. T / F

8. Information skills only cover the ability to find information sources. T / F

9. Library skills should be learned by students. T / F

Effective information skills involve more skills than the ability to use
10. T / F
Google.

B. Answer the following questions by choosing the correct answers.

1. These are included in the printed information sources, EXCEPT
a. books
b. journals
c. reports
d. blogs

2. These are included in the electronic information sources, EXCEPT

a. e-journals
b. databases
c. websites
d. newspapers

3. Information skills include the following abilities, EXCEPT

a. finding sources of information
b. evaluating the sources of information
c. distributing information
d. finding controversial news

4. Information sources should be checked for the following qualities, EXCEPT

a. accuracy
b. readability
 c. reliability
d. up-to-datedness

5.
a. it is only in the internet
b. it has no writer of the article
c. it is not peer-reviewed
d. it is not research based

Task 4
In the reading passages, many websites are mentioned to show where to find many
kinds of information. For example, when you want to find more information about the
Hull University Library, you can open www.hull.ac.uk/lib/.

Where can you find the following information? Complete the following table.

Information Websites address

1. An introduction to the Internet
2. Guidance on information skills with
relevant handouts
3. Information skills
4. Internet for Business Management
students
5. Internet for Economics students
6. Internet for Leisure Sport and
Recreation
7. Internet for Travel and Tourism
8. Electronic information sources

Now, open one of those websites and report what you find there.

Part 3
Language Focus
Task 5
Vocabulary Practice
The following are words related to the quality of information sources. Find the
meaning of them, and then match the words in the left column with
corresponding words in the right column
 Synonym
Validity current
Reliability accurateness
Up-to-date trustworthiness

Antonym
Accurate biased
Credible thorough
superficial obsolete
Up-to date doubtful

Task 6
Read the reading passage below thoroughly.

A robot escaped from a science lab and caused a traffic jam in one
Russian city, it's reported. Scientists at the Promobot laboratories in Perm had
been teaching the machine how to move around independently, but it broke
free after an engineer forgot to shut a gate, says the local edition of the
Argumenty Fakty newspaper. The robot found its way to a nearby street,
covering a distance of about 50m (164ft), before its battery ran out, the daily
says.
An eyewitness video posted online shows a vaguely humanoid machine
standing in the middle of a busy road, guarded by a traffic policeman. It is then
wheeled off by a human, presumably an engineer from the company that
developed the robot. Russian Channel 5 TV also showed footage of the
incident, and said that the robot spent about 40 minutes at large.
But not everyone is convinced that the robot's escape was accidental:
some in the Russian media have argued that it's all a ploy devised by
Promobot to draw attention to its creation. The company says its machines
can interact with humans, for example by answering questions and giving
directions. But as the name Promobot suggests, its primary purpose seems to
be broadcasting promotional audio messages via built-in loudspeakers.
 (Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-36547139)
Based on the reading passage, evaluate the information sources using the
following checklist.

No Statement Yes / No

1. The information is accurate.

2. The information is based on evidence.

3. The information is up-to-date.

4. The information is repeated in other reputable sources.

5. The topics are all covered without any omissions.

6. The coverage of the information is thorough.

7. The explanations and arguments are logical and coherent.

8. There is no omission in the steps or discussion points.

9. There are other interpretations of the data.

10. This work is made based on assumptions.

11. The author identifies the weaknesses of his/her work.

The author is a credible source and has a clear background and

12.
identity.

13. There is no biased or sponsored information resource.

Part 4
Summary & Reflection

Task 7
Post Reading
Summarize this chapter in your own words. Write your own summary in not
more than one page.