Biology: Writing & Citing

Laredo College Students (LC) ought to adhere to the guidelines outlined in the LC Policy Manual concerning Scholastic Dishonesty, including issues related to Cheating, Plagiarism, Collusion, and the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), as detailed in the Student's Rights and Responsibilities.

Student Rights and Responsibilities: Student Conduct 

The link above is attributed to the  LC Policy Manual

The CRAAP Test is an acronym that stands for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose. Each of these criteria helps you assess the quality of a source in a systematic manner.

1. Currency: This aspect evaluates how up-to-date the information is. Depending on your research topic, you might require the most recent information or historical data. Be aware of the publication date and any updates that may have occurred.

2. Relevance: Consider whether the source directly addresses the topic or question you're researching. A relevant source should provide information that contributes to your research goals.

3. Authority: Determine the credibility and expertise of the author or organization responsible for the source. Look for qualifications, credentials, or institutional affiliations that indicate the author's authority in the field.

4. Accuracy: Assess the reliability of the information presented. Is the source free from errors, bias, or unsubstantiated claims? Cross-reference the information with other reputable sources to verify its accuracy.

5. Purpose: Investigate the intent behind the source. Is it meant to inform, persuade, entertain, or sell a product? Understanding the purpose helps you gauge potential bias or hidden agendas.

By applying the CRAAP Test to your sources, you can make informed decisions about their suitability for your research project. It ensures that the information you rely on is current, relevant, authoritative, accurate, and aligns with your research goals.

• MLA Format: MLA Style specifies guidelines for formatting manuscripts and citing research in writing. MLA Style also provides writers with a system for referencing their sources through parenthetical citations in their essays and Works Cited pages. 

• APA Format: The APA (American Psychological Association) style is most commonly used to cite sources within the social sciences.

• Chicago Format: The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) covers a variety of topics from manuscript preparation and publication to grammar, usage, and documentation, and as such, it has been lovingly dubbed the “editor's bible.” 

The links above are attributed to the Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL).

1. Select a Subject: Choose a topic and initiate the preliminary planning of your paper, outlining your research strategy.
2. Locate Resources: Determine the necessary source types and where to explore them.
3. Scholarly References: Gain insight into peer-reviewed or academic sources and the methods for finding them.
4. Assess Your Sources: Acquire the skills to distinguish trustworthy and pertinent sources.
5. Properly Cite Your Sources: Access guidance on referencing sources and utilizing tools like NoodleTools or RefWorks.
6. Seek Assistance: Get in touch with us for additional support.

Argument Paper:  Generally accepted structure for an academic argument paper. Keep in mind that these are guidelines and that your structure needs to be flexible enough to meet the requirements of your purpose and audience.

Research Paper: This section includes resources on writing academic proposals for conference presentations, journal articles, and books.

Book Report: Book reports are informative reports that discuss a book from an objective stance. They are similar to book reviews but focus more on a summary of the work than an evaluation of it. Book reports commonly describe what happens in a work; their focus is primarily on giving an account of the major plot, characters, thesis, and/or main idea of the work. 

Exploratory Papers: Exploratory essays ask questions and gather information that may answer these questions. However, the main point of the exploratory or inquiry essay is not to find definite answers. The main point is to conduct an inquiry into a topic, gather information, and share that information with readers.

Research Paper: A research paper is the culmination and final product of an involved process of research, critical thinking, source evaluation, organization, and composition. Primary and secondary sources are the heart of a research paper, and provide its nourishment; without the support of and interaction with these sources, the research paper would morph into a different genre of writing. There are two major types of research papers: Argumentative and Analytical. 

Literature Paper: When you write an extended literary essay, often one requiring research, you are essentially making an argument. You are arguing that your perspective-an interpretation, an evaluative judgment, or a critical evaluation-is a valid one.

The links above are attributed to the Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL).  

Search Tips

• Use keywords relevant to your topic/research. Avoid slang or jargon.
• Use Boolean operators (and, or, not) to connect keywords together.
  • virus AND elderly
  • university OR college
  • mercury NOT planet
• Use the limiters on the left-hand side to filter and narrow down your search.
  • Limit to articles or print books and set a range of dates to search within
  • Filter by format, subject, publisher, publication, language, geography, library location, and databases

Peer-reviewed journals provide articles that are written, reviewed, and approved by experts in that field. Peer review is a widely accepted indicator of quality scholarship in a discipline or field.

To search for peer-reviewed articles in our library catalog, conduct your search and then limit the results to only "Scholarly (Peer Reviewed) Journals".

Primary Sources: Primary sources offer firsthand, original information and are highly regarded for their authority and authenticity. They allow you to engage directly with the thoughts, experiences, and raw data of the past, making them essential for historical and context-specific research.

Examples of primary sources include diaries, newspapers, letters, photographs, speeches, interviews, and official documents. These sources are created at the time an event occurred or by individuals who experienced it, providing an unfiltered and unmediated view of historical events, personal perspectives, and cultural artifacts.

Secondary Sources: Secondary sources are scholarly works that provide analysis, interpretation, or evaluation of primary sources, making them crucial for understanding, contextualizing, and synthesizing information from primary materials. They act as a bridge between primary sources and your research, offering expert insights and perspectives.

Examples of secondary sources include book reviews, peer-reviewed journal articles, textbooks, and documentaries. These sources provide critical assessments, explanations, and interpretations of primary materials. Researchers turn to secondary sources to gain a broader perspective on a topic, access expert opinions, and understand the scholarly discourse surrounding it.