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ENGL 1101 - Jaguar Jumpstart: Evaluate Sources

This guide provides information on library services and research skills for students in the Jaguar Jumpstart program.

Introduction

We all know there is a wealth of information available to us in the library and on the Internet. Unfortunately, we don't always know where the information we find is appropriate for our research.  It is important to be selective and to evaluate the information. The checklist below will help you make that determination.

Evaluating Sources

Each source must adhere to the requirements of your assignment and be relevant to your topic. Review your assignment instructions. Can you say YES to the following two questions? If not, then do NOT use the source(s).

ASK YOURSELF


Is your source relevant and useful to your topic? Read the abstract or summary of your source, if available. If there is no abstract or summary, skim the piece.

 

Continue to ask questions about your remaining sources.

Because you are looking at professional/trade articles, you may find that some of your sources may not reach the highest levels of scholarship, which is fine. For example, if you are having trouble with teaching Shakespeare's plays, an article about how a teacher successfully taught Shakespeare's Othello by having students produce the play would still be useful, even if it is not a peer-reviewed article based on original research.

ASK YOURSELF