Evaluating information is an important part of the academic writing process. Your professor may have provided you with sources to use for your assignment. Even so, it's a good idea to think about the credibility and reliability of those sources. (For example, consider: Why might your professor be recommending each individual source? What makes them helpful sources for your assignment?)
When you need to find sources on your own, you should always select them carefully and be able to explain why you think they are reliable. The major elements to consider when you evaluate sources include currency, authority, credibility, purpose, objectivity, writing style, and relevance.
Research Skills & Tips:
There are different types of sources for various audiences and purposes. When reading a source to use in an assignment, it's helpful to consider what kind of information you'll learn from it, and how it might be useful in your paper.
Research Skills & Tips:
To ensure the quality of your research, think critically about whether the sources you selected are credible, reliable, and relevant for your research goal.
Consider the evaluation tips on this page, and assess each article, book, website, or other source that you find.