How to determine if the information you find is usable in your paper?

There are five criteria to look for in a source:

•Purpose

•Authority

•Reliability/Objectivity•Currency

•Accuracy/Coverage

CURRENCY• When was it published or produced?

• Is it a first edition? (Many editions of a book indicate it has become standard and is reliable.)

• When was the web site last updated? (If there is no information about the date of publication or update don’t assume it is current)

• How many dead links are on the web page?

• Is the information out-dated? (It may have been current at one time, but is it now?)

REALIABILITY/OBJECTIVITY

• How detailed is the information? Is it too elementary, too technical, too advanced, or just right for your needs?

• Is there a bibliography at the end?

• Is the web site free of advertising?

• Is the information fact, opinion, or propaganda?

• Is there a published review of the book?

• Is the information well-researched?

• Is the author objective and un-biased?

• Are there any spelling or grammar mistakes, or typos?

• Are there facts or statistics? Where are they coming from?

• Is information omitted or too much included?

• Does the source update other sources or add new information?

• Is it free, or is there a fee to access the information?

• Do you need special software to view the information?

ACCURACY/COVERAGE

Jennifer Cox

Beware of Internet Resources!

ABC News

AUTHORITY

•What are the author’s credentials?

• Are any credentials even given?

• Is the book, article, web site, etc. written in their area of expertise?

• Is it published by a university press? (If so, it is probably scholarly.)

• Check the domain of a web site.

• Know the difference between an author and a webmaster.

Web Site Domains

Reliable web site domains include:.edu (educational site).gov (government site).org (non-profit organization site) Be careful to evaluate .orgs very closely!

Unreliable web site domains include:

.com (commercial site – may contain biased or non-authoritative information)

.net (network site)

•What is the purpose of the document? Why was it produced? • educational• commercial(i.e. selling)• entertainment• promotional

• (A book’s forward or introduction or a website’s “about us” page often provides this info.)

PURPOSE

Full Definition of COPYRIGHT: the exclusive legal right to reproduce, publish, sell, or distribute the matter and form of something (as a literary, musical, or artistic work)

Merriam-Webster Dictionary http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/copyright

What is Copyright?

Why is Copyright or Copyright Infringement Important for you?

Why is Copyright or Copyright Infringement Important for you?

If you have any questions or need help locating

resources,etc. Please feel free to contact me.

Jennifer CoxLibrarian

jacox@aii.edu or 503-382-4829