Evaluating Sources

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WIKIPEDIA
As a general rule, you will NOT want to use Wikipedia as a direct source for your writing.  However, you can visit Wikipedia as a springboard to better sources on the subject.
  • You are encouraged to review what Wikipedia may have to say on a given topic.
  • Get ideas from the writings
  • Write down key phrases that you could use to perform another search through the library or Internet to help you gather more diverse information on your topic.
  • Review all of the sources listed at the end of the Wikipedia articles on your topic so that you can look those sources up, get ideas about scholars in the field you are researching, and to gain additional perspective on the topic.

 SITE SAVING 
When you are gathering research on a topic, you may do a lot of digging, searching, and reading about the topic, and it may take you in many directions that you never imagined.  This is why note-taking and site saving are so important during this stage of the Writing Process.  

Some of the places you visit will be unsubstantiated, while others will be scholarly writing that will serve best as support for your topic.  Knowing how to differentiate between these types of sources is imperative for a well-written and properly-supported writing.

No matter if the sites you visit are more social or more scholarly, you want to be sure to site save all places you visit on your topic.  Later, if you remember a point or quote that you want to add into your paper, and you have site saved it, you can simply review the links saved to your folder in your browser.  

This is also beneficial for if/when you need to write another paper on a similar topic.  You already have a folder full of source links to get started with.


EVALUATING SOURCES
By going to this website, you will learn:
  • What to look for when evaluating a source that you’re considering in your research
  • What evaluative questions to ask
  • How to identify primary and secondary sources
When looking for sources–particularly websites–think about whether or not they are reliable. You want your paper to contain sources written by unbiased and professional experts, not businessmen with commercial interests.
Effectively evaluating information is a skill that you can use for the rest of your life no matter what you do. Always be smart about the information you read and refer to.  Remember, your use of sources is a means of supporting the argument you make. This means that the sources you reference need to be credible and authoritative. 

CREDIBLE SOURCES
How do you know that your sources are of value? Ask yourself the questions at the sites below.  Each will help you determine if a source is reliable.

What Does Credibility Mean?
What Makes a Source Credible?
What are Credible Sources?
How Do I Evaluate a Source for Credibility?
  1. Tutorial: Step 1
  2. Step 2: Determine Authority
  3. Step 3: Determine Accuracy
  4. Step 4: Determine Coverage
  5. Step 5: Determine Currency
  6. Step 6: Determine Objectivity
  7. Step 7: Evaluate
What Types of Evidence Should I Use (from OWL)
Is my Source Credible (from University of Maryland)
Credible versus non-credible resources (from Appalachian State College)
Credible/Non-credible sources (from AcademiaResearch.com)
Evaluating the Credibility of your Sources (from Columbia College)
Evaluating Sites for Credibility (by EasyBib)
Additional Resources


RELIABLE SOURCES

Finding Reliable Sources:


FACT CHECK
Information available from HERE

Use the nonpartisan fact checking and bias-rating sources (within the online links below) to verify information that sounds too good, bad, or strange to be true.   

If you can't find anything, consult the Do-It-Yourself fact-checking tools in the DIY pages of this guide below.




Fact Checking the News: 



Additional Resources






I have not had time to upload all of my content for how to evaluate sources and what constitutes a reliable and credible source.  However, I do have some information (above) as well as university links for you to use that will provide you with assistance in knowing whether a source is worth using in your writing.  Remember, sources you use need to be BOTH reliable and credible.  

This page is still under construction, but hopefully, you will find something of value here as it continues as a work-in-progress.



Still need HELP...
Click HERE 
to find what you are looking
for with source citations.

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