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            Information Power/Evaluating Sources*

HOW TO EVALUATE A SOURCE WITHOUT READING IT

Step one) Read the preface or introduction or the first few paragraphs; they usually include the author's purpose.

Step two) Read the summary or conclusion; it reviews the author's main points.

Step three) Skim chapter or section headings; this will give you an overview of the material. See if there is an index; if there is, look up some key words or phrases that relate to your topic.

Step four) Browse through the material looking for sections that appear most directly related to your topic. Read those sections to observe the author's opinions and style.


What should you be looking for while you are scanning sources? Consider the following factors:

Factor one) Purpose and Relevance: What is the main point? How is the work pertinent to your research?

Factor two) Type of source: Is this a popular or an academic publication? Does it contain original research or secondary information? Was it written to entertain, to advocate a particular social or political viewpoint, to sell advertising, or to report on scholarly or scientific research? Who is the intended audience?

Factor three) Author: What do you know about the author? Is the author a staff writer or journalist assigned to a story, or does this person have any academic credentials or other expertise that qualifies her or him to write in this field?

Factor four) Timeliness: How old is the information? Is the information up-to-date and accurate? For your particular research, is using older materials appropriate? If an article about a current event has been written recently, does it cover the event objectively?

*Author: John Henderson, Ithaca College Library
http://www.ithaca.edu/library/course/evaluate.html

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