Evaluate Sources

Not all information is of equal value.

Different sources have different purposes:

• Some information is meant to inform.
• Some information is meant to entertain.
• Some information is meant to persuade.
• Some information is meant to mislead.

Different authors have different levels of expertise and authority:

• Some authors have doctoral degrees in their subject area.
• Some authors are professional journalists, trained in gathering and reporting information to the public.
• Some authors have worked in their field for decades.
• Some authors are biased.
• Some authors do not know any more about their subject than you or I do. 

Making informed decisions about which sources to use and not use will improve your research (and probably your grade!).