ARTH 370 Library
Activity (Required)
The library activity
is intended to get you started on your Virtual Travel Assignment. Note that Professor
Tepfer has made this a required library activity.
By Wednesday, June 15:
- Select a historical site from those
illustrated in your text or course modules.
- State your choice in this conference. Change the subject line of your response
to include your choice.
- Make sure your choice fulfills the following criteria:
- It was created before 1400 C.E.
- It is an existing place (example of a NON-existing place: the Hanging Gardens of Babylon).
- It is NOT and object (example
of an object: Terra cotta soldiers).
- Note: Professor Tepfer will
provide feedback regarding your choice of historical site. Questions about your choice
should be directed to Professor Tepfer.
By Friday, June 17:
Between Monday, June
20 - Friday, June 24:
- Review feedback by librarian.
By Friday, June 24:
- If needed, edit and
re-submit your initial posting based on feedback.
For more examples and complete
details for the Virtual Travel Assignment, see Professor Tepfer's project
description located in the syllabus.
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Part
1: Research using library databases
Part 1 involves the use of a library encyclopedia
called Grove
Art Online and one additional library database. Although
Grove Art Online may not the easiest resource to use, it provides information
written by experts in art and architecture. It also
contains many images and illustrations.
Find information and
an image on your site using Grove
Art Online and one additional library database:
- Go to Grove
Art Online.
(Please note that IE 6+ or Netscape 7+ is recommended for using Grove.)
- Try a keyword search for the historic site you picked. If you need help locating a site, try the Explore feature in Grove
Art Online.
Remember to review Prof. Tepfer's criteria
for a site. Record your search strategy (keywords, etc.).
- Were you able
to find an article on your topic? You can find illustrations, diagrams,
or photographs on most topics in the menu towards the top. Review the Finding
Images conference
for tips on locating images in Grove. Please
don't hesitate the to ask the librarian if you have any questions.
- a) Find one article about
your historic site using one of the library databases listed in the library's Guide
to Art Resources. If you are not sure which to choose, try Academic
Search Premier. Please don't hesitate
the to ask the librarian if you have any questions.
b) Try to determine if
the article you find is from a newspaper, a magazine or a peer-reviewed
publication (also known as refereed, or scholarly/academic). See the library's guide
to identifying scholarly articles for help with this task. Please don't hesitate
the to ask the librarian if you have any questions.
- Cite the article according
to APA or MLA citation guidelines. Indicate which citation style you
selected. Refer to the Citing
Your Sources for help, including examples. Do NOT use the
suggested citation formats mentioned in Grove Art Online.
Part
2: Research using a Web search engine
The Internet can
be a valuable source of information. As always when you do research, you need to
be critical about the information you find. Much of the material on the Web does
not undergo a critical review process by experts. The peer-reviewed
research you will find in a library database has been critically evaluated by other
experts (peers of the author).
Find information and
an image on your site using a Web search engine:
- Use a search engine such as
Yahoo or Google or review some of the sites suggested in the library's Guide
to Art Resources. Please ask the librarian if you would like help picking a
search engine. Record your search strategy (name of search engine and keywords).
- Evaluate the Web site you
found and briefly explain what you found:
- Try to identify the author and the author's credentials (example: PhD in Art
History).
- Try to identify the sources
the author drew on to write the information on the Web site/Web page.
- Try to determine if the information is presented objectively. Is it a commercial
site (dot.com)?
Is it free of advertising?
Be aware that commercial sites may be available not to provide un-biased,
accurate information, but to sell a product, a place, or to market a belief or opinion.
Non-commercial sites include educational sites (dot.edu) and organizational sites
(dot.org).
- Try to determine if the information has been thoroughly reviewed. Is there any
mentioning of a review process or an editorial board?
- Try to determine when the
information was created. Is there information about when it was updated? Copyright
date?
- Report on what your
overall impression is regarding the Web site? Is it authoritative, accurate,
objective, and current enough to use for a research paper? If needed, would you be
prepared to present the Website as a reliable source of information to your professor,
or a supervisor at work?
- Cite the Web site according to APA or MLA citation
guidelines. Please indicate which citation style you selected. Refer to the Citing
Your Sources conference for help, including examples. Do NOT use
the suggested citation formats mentioned in Grove Art Online.
Post your answers to this activity as a response to this topic to receive feedback.
____Change the subject line to the name of the historic site you are researching.
____Note whether you are citing your resources in APA or MLA style.
____If you attach a document, remember to put your name on the document!
