Online Sources
The Internet, with its up-to-the-minute information on a vast range of topics, has quickly become an invaluable research tool. Like all sources of information, the Internet has its limitations. Material published on the Net is not subject to the same screening process as books and periodicals (publishers, editors, reviewers, etc.) so Internet users must be especially careful to check the credentials of the authors and the accuracy of the information. Not every site on the Internet is a reliable source.
In addition, since Internet material is easily edited or deleted, the information included in a paper or other assignment may not be available at a later date. Consequently, the English Department requires that a print copy of all Internet material be submitted with the Works Cited or Works Consulted.
Online material, like all borrowed information, must be documented. As the Internet continues to evolve, the format for the documentation of Internet sites changes as well. The Modern Language Association has made guidelines to online sources available on its website: www.mla.org. Check this web site for the latest samples if those listed in this booklet do not meet your needs.
Pennsylvania provides its residents with access to many useful databases and subscription services through its Power Library web site. You can access this site in the EAHS library or on the Easton Public Library's web site (www.eastonpl.org) with the bar code on your public library card.
Most Internet sites do not use page numbers. Do not use the page numbers that appear on printouts in parenthetical documentation unless they also appear on the web site itself.
The samples that appear in this section are those that are unique to the Internet. Additional samples of online sources can be found under periodicals, book reviews, interviews, and reference sources.
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Professional or Personal Web Sites: |
"About Science Writing." MIT Graduate Program in Science Writing. 20 Mar. 2002 <http://web.mit.edu/sciwrite/about.html>.
Alexie, Sherman. Home page. 5 Mar. 2002 <http://www.fallsapart.com/biography.html>.
Padgett, John B. "William Faulkner in Oxford Mississippi." William Faulkner on the Web. June 1998. 4 May 2001 <http://www.mcsr.olemiss.edu/egjbbp/faulkner>.
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Material from a Subscription Service: |
Subscription services provide access to information for a fee. Whenever you obtain sources from a subscription service, your Works Cited entry must contain the original publication facts, the name of the service, and the location where you accessed the service, the date of access, and the service's URL.
Gerard, Philip. "The Mad Maximalist Strikes Again." The World & I 1 Mar. 1999: 240. MasterFILEPremier. EBSCOhost. Easton Area High School Lib., Easton,PA. 19 Apr. 1999 <http://www.elibrary.com/>.
Jones, Patrice. "World Cup Final Field May Not Include Brazil." Chicago Tribune 29 June 2001: n. pag. Newspaper Source. EBSCOhost. Easton Area High School, Easton, PA. 26 Feb. 2002 <http:/www.epnet.com>.