Use encyclopedias, dictionaries, Wikipedia and ChatGPT to help you explore topics or understand words and concepts in your assignment. They should not be used for your research. They are not an academic source. Whatever you copy from the Internet, a book or an article, it should be documented (cited).
SIFT= Stop, Investigate, Find, Trace
SIFT (The Four Moves) is a method of evaluating information sources that looks at the context of the information and has the advantage of being a four letter acronym rather than a five letter acronym; one less step! Relating SIFTing to your friend Bob and what he's telling you. Instead of believing Bob because he's been correct in the past, you go and check if what he's saying now is true.
Wikipedia is a free-content online encyclopedia written and maintained by a community of volunteers, known as Wikipedians, through open collaboration and the use of the wiki-based editing system MediaWiki. Wikipedia is the largest and most-read reference work in history. Wikipedia
Created by: Jimmy Wales, Larry Sanger Owner: Wikimedia Foundation
Launch date: January 15, 2001 Available in: 326 languages
ChatGPT is a chatbot developed by OpenAI and launched on November 30, 2022. Based on a large language model, it enables users to refine and steer a conversation towards a desired length, format, style, level of detail, and language. Wikipedia
Developer: OpenAI, Microsoft Corporation
You need to create an account on the OpenAI website to log in and access ChatGPT, but it is free.
How do you use ChatGPT effectively?
Be specific. The more specific you are in your prompt, the better. ChatGPT will be able to understand what you want.
Use examples Set a length limit Be patient
Simplilearn.com
Privacy concerns: When you share personal information with ChatGPT, you run the risk of that information being accessed or intercepted by unauthorized parties. This could happen if the data is stored insecurely or if the system has a vulnerability that allows hackers to access the information. Apr 16, 2023
Risk of Using Personal and Professional Information in ChatGPT
Why you should not substitute your own essay for a ChatGPT result (the citation only cites ChatGpT)
Essay on Ethanol
OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT (3.5) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com
Evaluating Websites and Other Sources
Consider...
If you cannot determine the credibility of the information you are using, especially from a website, it's best not to use it to factually support your argument. Using biased or inaccurate information in your paper can negatively impact your grade.