2.Analyze the information sources listed above, and divide them into primary sources, secondary sources and tertiary sources based on the definitions given below.
1) Primary sources are original materials on which other research is based. They have not been filtered through interpretation or evaluation. They present original thinking, report a discovery, or share new information.
Such as: _________________________________________________________
2) Secondary sources are accounts written after the fact with the benefit of hindsight. They are interpretations and evaluations of primary sources. Secondary sources are not evidence, but rather commentary on and discussion of evidence.
Such as: _________________________________________________________
3) Tertiary sources are an index and/or textual condensation of primary and secondary sources. Depending on the topic of research, a scholar may use a bibliography, dictionary, or encyclopedia as either a tertiary or a secondary source.
Such as: _________________________________________________________
4) What are the differences between primary, secondary and tertiary sources?
3.Answer the questions concerning information retrieval tools.
1) In what way did people retrieve information before computers were widely used?
2) How do people often retrieve information with the help of computer?
3) Look through the table below; do you recognize sources you often use when you search for information? Are there other resources you use to find information when researching a topic?
http://www.google.com CNKI
http://www.altavista.com ProQuest
http://www.infoseek.com Springer
http://www.baidu.com Ovid Technologies
http://www.excite.com SCI
4) Compare the items in the left column with the ones in the right, and figure out the two main ways to obtain information by computer retrieval.
