Evaluating Sources: Home

To be a good researcher for any project, it is important to choose the best sources, not just the first items that you find. This applies to books and articles, as well as Web sites. So how do you decide what to use?

What requirements or guidelines has your professor given? If you need clarification, don't hesitate to ask questions.

The more you know, the easier it is to judge how useful a source will be. This may require some extra background reading on your part. If you recognize the major issues and arguments surrounding your topic, it will be much easier to assess the usefulness of a source.

Don't automatically accept things at face value. Look closely at how well an author develops and supports an argument or hypothesis. Don't be afraid to challenge your own preconceptions.