Like the perfect wave or the perfect day, the perfect source is hard to come by. Instead of looking for perfect sources, evaluate sources on the basis of practicality, standards, and evidence.
C1 | Evaluate sources as a practical researcher |
Your situation as a writer may determine how long or how widely you can search or how deeply you can delve into the sources you find. If you are worried about finishing on time or about juggling several assignments, you will need to search efficiently, using your own practical criteria.
C2 | Evaluate sources as your readers would |
If you are uncertain about college requirements, start with recommended sources that are easily accessible, readable, and up-to-date. Look for sources that are chock-full of reliable facts, statistics, research findings, case studies, observations, examples, and expert testimony to persuade your readers.
C3 | Evaluate sources for reliable and appropriate evidence |
When you use evidence from sources to support your points, both you and your readers are likely to hold two simple expectations:
After all, how could an unreliable source successfully support your ideas? And what could unsuitable or mismatched information contribute? The difficulty, of course, is learning how to judge what is reliable and appropriate. The following checklist suggests how you can use the time-tested journalist’s questions to evaluate print or electronic sources.
Who?
What?
When?
Where?
Why?
How?