ENGL 100 - Expository Writing

Library Research Guide

For more information on evaluating resources, refer to pages 229-231 in your textbook.

Watch the following video to learn how to evaluate sources.

Evaluating Sources by Western Libraries
(Western Libraries)/ CC BY-NC-ND 3.0

Evaluating Sources Video Transcript (PDF)
This transcript was created to make the related video more accessible.

When searching for resources (especially on the Internet), keep the following five points in mind.

Currency: Is the information current and up-to-date?
Relevance: Is the information related and relevant to your topic? Is the information at an appropriate level (i.e. not too elementary or advanced for your needs)?
Authority: What is the reputation or credentials of the creator?
Accuracy: Can you verify the information you found? Does the language or tone seem unbiased and free of emotion?
Purpose/Objectivity: Is the purpose of the resource to inform? How might the author's bias influence the information?

For more information on evaluating resources, refer to pages 229-231 in your textbook.