10-18-06
Mrs. Brown, a Technology Educator, is the author of this website.
Created August 2005, updated October 2006.
This webpage is hosted by Wayne RESA.
Return to: Learning Websites for Middle School Students
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How To Write A Citation
The Format...
A citation has 5 parts written in this order:
- The author's name – last name, then first name.
- The title of the website in italics.
- The date the website was posted or updated.
- The website's http:// address inside of brackets [ ]
- The date you visited the website.
You will always know the title of the website, the http address of the website and the date you visited the website.
However, sometimes the author's name and the date the website was posted or updated is missing.
When you cannot find the author of the site, write down Unknown for the author's name.
If you can't find the date the website was posted or updated write down Unknown.
An Example...
- Brown, Joan Marie. Online Resources For Middle School Students. 9/20/06.
[http://students.resa.net/stoutcomputerclass/kids.htm]. 10/20/06.
Notice that the citation looks like a short paragraph.
Notice that there is a period after each piece of information.
Questions You Should Think About As You Evaluate A Website
Is the author's name given?
Is the author's school, organization, or institution given?
Can the author be contacted? Is there an e-mail link, a phone number, or an address?
Does the author have the experience, the training, or the education to be the author of this website?
Do the graphics or the pictures fit the content of this website?
Is the color scheme of this website nice-looking?
Are the fonts easy to read?
Do all the links listed on this website work?
Is this website organized – is it easy to move through?
Does the title of this website tell you what this website is about?
Is this site's content easy to read and understand?
Are there any spelling or grammar mistakes?
Is the content on this website up-to-date? How do you know this?
Is the content on this website correct and true? What could you do to make sure that it is?
Is the content on this website fair and open-minded?
Is the date this website was last updated, posted?
Some Search String Strategies
- Search Engine
- Google, AskForKids, and Yahooligans are search engines. A search engine is a tool that lets you search the Internet for information about a specific topic. For example, you might search the Internet for a recipe on how to make chocolate chips cookies.
- Search String
A search string is one word or a string of words that you ask a Search Engine to use so it can find that specific piece of information out on the Internet.
Some Search String Strategies... What it does... chocolate chips Searches for websites that contain either chocolate or chips.
+chocolate+chips Searches for websites that contain both words. Be sure there is no space between the plus sign and the word. "chocolate chips" Searches for websites that have both words, found right next to each other. "chocolate chips"-cookies Searches for websites that contain the phrase "chocolate chips" but do not contain the word "cookies".
Limit your slideshow to 5 or 6 slides. Avoid a long, boring, pointless PowerPoint Slideshow.
Easy To Read Color Schemes – Up Close and From A Distance: a dark sky blue background with dark yellow text, or a medium to dark yellow background with dark sky blue text, or Soaring in the Design Templates.
Fancy fonts are difficult to read. Arial is a font that's easy to read.
Title Text should be between 36 - 40 points.
Bulleted Text should be at least 24 points.
The subject matter that you include in your slideshow must be meaningful.
Avoid long paragraphs. Oftentimes, people won't read them. Instead, bullet your information. Write short phrases or short sentences.
Type no more than 8 lines of text on a slide. Type no more than 8 words on a line.
Bold, italic and/or underline only those words that are important.
Use graphics when you want to make a point.
Use animation when it helps you to make a point. Animation can be distracting.
Stay legal. Cite your resources.
Make your speech interesting, meaningful, and to the point.
Practice your speech out loud with your slideshow running. Remember, your audience can read - do not read your slides to your audience - just refer to them as you give them additional information about your topic.
Face your audience.
Make eye contact.
Speak clearly and with confidence.
Don't race through your speech. Talk slow enough so people get what you are trying to say.
Talk loud – don't shout – but make sure the person in the back of the room can hear you.