Jackson: So first I tell them that depending on your topic, not all popular sources are bad. I like to put that out there. And I know different disciplines and different faculty members kind of have different views on that. But I don't think all popular sources are bad. Because if you're talking about something in pop culture, you very well may need to reference Rolling Stone magazine. So it's not always bad.

But I think helping them to understand, particularly with internet sources, that there is a real issue with the credibility and validity of what's out there. And so helping students understand that professional journals have this built in system. I explain peer review and that other experts in the field have looked at this and said that this is accurate. It's OK.

Let's them know that this a source you can trust. This is something that you can rely on to serve as evidence. And some things in popular sources have not always been validated. Just because something is written down or on the web doesn't make it true. It doesn't make it the only way to look at a particular issue or topic. And so that's when critical thinking comes in, and really assessing your sources.

And then we just talk about who could put anything on the web. And they know, anybody can. And I say, right. I could put myself up as Doctor Jackson and give you 10 health hints for healthy living. I'm not that kind of doctor. So we talk about that.

So I think is helping them to understand that for, particularly an academic argument, that professional journals really, you know that those are, they're credible. They've been reviewed. They're accurate.

And the popular sources, not always appropriate. But depending on the topic, you may find yourself using something that may be completely fine.