Evaluating Sources

and Information

by Sue Heraper
Teacher Librarian
Newbury Park High School
Things to
think about
as you decide
whether or
not a source
is reliable…
How current is the
material?
What experience does
the author have?
Who published the
material?
Who?
Authority is
being an
expert on a
particular
subject.
What?
Coverage
is the
extent of
the
subject
matter.
Why?
Objectivity is a
lack of bias or
prejudice.
When?
Currency
means
contemporary,
up-to-date
How?
 Accuracy

correctness
in every detail, precision and
exactness
Should you ever cite
Wikipedia in a paper for
class?
Should you ever cite
Wikipedia in a paper for
class?
Wait, wait!
Wikipedia can
still help you in
your research!
Background
information
Keywords
Links
References
Consider
these
scenarios
1. You are
researching the
rain forest.
 Which sentence demonstrates the
author’s opinion about the topic
rather than fact?
1. People around the 3. People should be willing
world have become to give money to help
more aware of rain save the rain forests.
forest destruction.
2. Species are becoming 4. Deforestation hurts the
endangered due to environment
habitat destruction in
the rain forest.
“People should
be willing to give
money to help
save the rain
forests” is an
opinion, not a
fact.
2. You have located websites
on the negative effects of drugs
on teenagers.
 Which site would best meet your
information need?
1. addictionscare.com -- 3. teenscenezeen.org --
A 24-hour addiction Explains how to say
hotline in your “no” to drugs at a party
community
2. teendrugabuse.org -- 4. teendrugabusers.us --
Describes how illegal Provides help for
drugs affect the teen parents with troubled
brain teens
www.teendrugabuse.org
3. You need
to find
information
for a school
project and
one source
must be a
Web page.
 Which question will NOT help you
evaluate the sites?

1. Who is the author of 3. When was the site last

the information? updated?
2. How many people use 4. Is the author an expert
the site? on the subject?
“How many people use the site?”
does not help you evaluate the
authority or currency of a site.
4. You are looking for current
information about Pluto

and why it is no longer

a planet.
 Which source below offers the most
current information?
1. www.nasa.gov— 3. “Pluto”—
a website created by an entry in World Book
the National Air and Encyclopedia dated
Space Administration 2000
that is updated daily 4. “Moon or Planet”—
2. Our Stars and Planets— an article in the July
a book written by A.J. 2008 issue of Scientific
Wright with a copyright American magazine
date of 1996
www.nasa.gov
5. You are
writing a
paper on
toy safety.
 Which website is most likely to have
the least biased information?

1. U.S. Consumer Product 3. Toy Manufacturers

Safety Commission Association
2. Mattel, Inc. 4. Toys “R” Us
6. You are
researching
healthy
eating.
 Which website would be the most
appropriate resource to locate
information?
1. dietsforyounow.com -- 3. thinkquest.org/401672 --
A site that helps you set A site created by Ms.
up a diet plan for Jon’s 3rd grade class
weight loss about the food pyramid
2. choosemyplate.gov -- 4. ourdietfads.com --
Department of A site that covers recent
Agriculture website that fad diets
gives tips for healthy
eating
7. You read on the Web that
Mad Cow Disease may have
been found in the United States.
 How might you best determine the
truth of this statement?
1. Check the website 3. Look up the topic on
www.fbifiles.com for the website from the
information the American Council on
government might not Beef
release to the public. 4. Discuss the news with
2. Search for "Mad Cow friends who might have
Disease" on the U.S. heard about Mad Cow
Department of Disease.
Agriculture website.