MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Location: file:///C:/8565A114/quick_sheet.htm Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" Evaluating Information – Quick Sheet

Evaluating Information – Quick Sheet

 

Evaluate the source and its content!

&nbs= p;

  1. Compare information between sources.=
  2. Corroborate information between sources.<= o:p>

·        verify information with various reviewed sources

  1. Reviewed sources have a higher degree of reliability and are an excellent place to start a comparison and corroboration of information.

 

Books

Source

1.     Author

·        Authority= and expertise

        &= nbsp;     - Author’s education

        &= nbsp;     - Past writings

        &= nbsp;     - Experience

·        Affiliati= on with reputable institutions

2.     Publisher

·        A source associated with a university such as University Press of Oxford indicates t= hat it is a scholarly work. However, a reputable publisher does not always indi= cate high quality just that the publisher supports the source.=

3.     Currency

·        How does = the information relate to your topic?

·        Does your= topic need current or historical information?

·        Is the in= formation too current or out-of-date for your topic?

4.     Revisions

·        Is the so= urce a first edition or has there been additional editions?

·        Further editions indicate that the information has been updated and has included previous omissions.

·        It also r= eveals source has become a standard in the subject and reliable.=

          Content

1.     What is the main idea?

2.     Does the information relate to your topic?

3.     Who is the intended audience? Is the informati= on too basic or too technical for your research?

4.     Is the information fact, opinion, or propagand= a?

5.     Is the information researched and valid? =

6.     Are there any errors or omissions?<= /span>

7.     Does the information correspond with other sou= rces?

8.     Is it a primary or secondary source?

Periodicals

Source

          Journal=

1.     Citations that support the information –= bibliography or footnotes

2.     Author – scholar or expert in the subjec= t

3.     Language – associated with the field and assumes reader has some scholarly experience

4.     Charts and tables

5.     Many are sponsored by professional organizatio= ns or academic institutions

6.     Reports on original research=

Magazine

1.     No bibliography, footnotes, or citations that support the information

2.     Author – journalist or generalist coveri= ng a range of topics

3.     Audience is the general public

4.     Glossy and colorful pictures and a cover that attracts attention

5.     Prominent advertisements

Content

1.     What is the main idea?

2.     Does the information relate to your topic?

3.     Who is the intended audience? Is the informati= on too basic or too technical for your research?

4.     Is the information fact, opinion, or propagand= a?

5.     Is the information researched and valid? =

6.     Are there any errors or omissions?<= /span>

7.     Does the information correspond with other sou= rces?

8.     Is it a primary or secondary source?

 

Web site    
       &= nbsp;  Source

1.     Do some prelim research and reading in reliable sources to gain background information before searching Internet.

2.     URL

·        Extension= or type of domain (.com, .net, .gov, .edu, .org, .mil)

·        Symbols (= ~, %) that represent personal web pages

3.     Authority

·        Evaluating author/designer

-   Who is making the statement?=

-   What authority or experience does she/he have?=

-   Why is she/he making the statement?=

4.     Currency

·        How often= is the information updated?

·        Is the information current?

          Content

1.     How accurate is the content?=

2.     What is the author(s) doing to establish the t= ruth of the statement?

3.     What are other sites saying about it?

4.     What is its purpose? To inform? To advocate a position? To sell a product?