This guide works best by accessing it within Atlas. Follow these steps:
Note: If you do not access this guide thorugh Atlas, you will be prompted for a Borrower ID and PIN when you click on the links to the databases
Questions to Ask:
Who is providing this information?
Think about both the author and the publisher.
Do they have any expertise in this area?
Has the source been edited or fact-checked?
What kind of evidence is used to substantiate the claims?
Statistics? Expert opinions? Anecdotes?
Does the author cite his or her sources?
Does it have ads?
Remember that although many of the library databases provide MLA citations for electronic sources, it is your responsibility as a student to ensure that all of your citations are correct.
Be sure to compare any database generated citations to the library's MLA guides online (link below), the official MLA Handbook (located at the second floor Reference Desk), or your Little Seagull Handbook.
Peer reviewed, academic articles as well as magazine and newspaper articles can be accessed through the Valencia library databases.
You may also wish to track individual senators or representatives' statements and/or speeches about the "Dream Act" (an acronym for Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors).
For statements, try searching each senator or representative's web sites. You will need to know the names of particular supporters or opponents for this. Discover the major players in the issue by reading newspaper articles.
For speeches, many speeches given in Congress are available via YouTube, but be careful about the source. Some senators and representatives have their own YouTube sites and upload videos of their speeches. These are more reliable sources than random captures of unknown origin.
If you would like to read the actual text of bills use the Library of Congress' THOMAS site. It is helpful to know which congress you want to search in THOMAS.
