Blog entry #8

Probably the most important work on an essay begins before even writing it. The sources are what give my essay believability so finding the right source is important. Firstly, I evaluate what kind of material I will need for the paper I must write. If I am writing planning on writing a paper on a topic that is historical or has been known for a long period of time, then my first instinct would be to go to a library and look for material. The library is not always the best way to find a source. Sometimes a topic is very recent and a book would have not had time to be published. On types of writing like this, a newspaper or magazine would be much more appropriate. Such sources may not always be as reliable, so more work goes into validating a source and verifying what they say than actually using them. I personally never like using newspapers and magazines because finding them always ends up being a hassle and the information is so brief. There is no doubt that my favorite way to get information is through the internet. I have found many people (some being teachers) who discredit the use of the internet for finding information in any form. They say there is too much information and it cannot always be trusted. The way I see it, the massive amount of information is one of its greatest advantages. As long as the site you are using is a creditable one, then why not use it rather than the inconvenience of the library? It can again be very helpful when I have an idea of what type of image or any specific item I would like to include but have no idea how to find it in a library (If the library even has anything relatively close that is). Basically, I usually stick with the internet and libraries for all my sources.