English 201 Research in the Disciplines

Locating sources relevant to your research is an important first step. Nevertheless, not all sources are equally valid and reliable. It is therefore necessary to evaluate the quality of information in the sources you identify before choosing to integrate them into your research paper.

This page will introduce you to the basics of source evaluation in different contexts.

• Watch the video, "Evaluating Sources."
• Complete the tutorial, "Choosing the Best Web Resource."
• Review "Techniques for Evaluating Internet Sources"
• Review "Techniques for Evaluating Any Kind of Source"
• Review the "ACCORD" Model for Evaluating Your Sources"

The Internet can be a great place for information on endless topics. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that anyone can put information on the Web—it is unregulated, unmonitored, unchecked, unedited, and of widely differing reliability. It is therefore important that to personally evaluate the validity, authorship, timeliness and integrity of the information you find.

Some information adapted from UC Berkeley Library-Teaching Library Internet Workshops: Evaluating Web Pages: Techniques to Apply & Questions to Ask