Citing Internet Sources

SLM521

Elective 3

Wendy McNeill-McBrien

http://www.thewritesource.com/mla.htm

I would choose the Write Source as my favorite of the four choices given. First of all, as a teacher of fifth grade students, this site was the most eye appealing to me. fifth grade students cannot handle a lot of text at one time, as I am sure is true for many students. I also use other materials from the Write Source, so the students would be familiar with the format. Although I have no preference between MLA and ALA, the Write Source uses MLA and explains the format concisely and with examples. Write Source lists all of the items that should be in your citation, and then goes on to explain that if the information is not there to omit it.

Classroom Connect has their citations very small and hard to read. Instead of listing all of the requirements needed for all citing from the internet, they state the structure for each one separately with examples. As a teacher I want them to know why they need to cite all of the information and to set out to look for as much as they can, instead of just looking for the necessary. This helps them to see that many sources have the same information, which teaches an understanding of what to do , rather than memorizing a process. It also seems to be a mix of ALA and MLA guidelines. Skillman & Kirby Libraries offer the same option of both ALA and MLA format. I think this is confusing to students first learning how to cite information from the internet.

MLA format using the Write Source Guide-

Salwen, Peter. “The Quotable Mark Twain.” Salwen Business Communications. 20 May 1996. 27 May 2005. < http://salwen.com/mtquotes.html>

United States. The Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook: Afghanistan. 17 May 2005. 27 May 2005.

< http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/af.html>

NASCAR.com. “ 2003 Winston Cups Series Drivers.” NASCAR.com. Jan. 2001. 27 May 2005. <http://www.nascar.com/drivers/list/wc/dps/>

McKenzie, Jamie. “Building Good New Ideas.” From Now On The Educational Technology Journal. June 2001. 27 May 2005. < http://fno.org/jun01/building.html>