HOW TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE GOOD SOURCES AND THE RIGHT SOURCES!

All about Sources

The Types of Sources

Print Books Magazines Encyclopedias Newspapers Anything that is able to be touched and is typed up and

publishedElectronic

Things from databases Often pieces that were once in print, but have been put onto

the web Electronic sources are FOUND on the web, but are

independent of the webInternet

Things that you find when searching from a search engine (google, ask.com, bing, etc.)

Benefits Drawbacks

It takes a lot to get published. This means when something is, it holds more weight or importance.

Stuff in print is easy to track down—for the researcher and for the one reading the research.

It takes a long time to get printed up and once it’s printed it might be pretty old. This means sometimes stuff is out of date right after it gets printed.

Print Sources

Benefits Drawbacks

It’s easy to get your hands on wherever you are. The databases in our library are accessible at home.

It’s sometimes the most current information you can get.

It has the backing of a database/sponsoring organization so it is reputable.

It’s green

Electronic sources are sometimes not accepted as an authority.

Electronic sources can be less detailed than the original work taken from. For example, sometimes pictures or excerpts from a document are omitted in the electronic source.

Electronic Sources

Benefits Drawbacks

Google and other search engines are familiar and easy to use.

You don’t need a special password or library to use the internet.

Anyone can make a webpage, website, or internet document.

You never really know where the information came from.

Sometimes the internet information can change from day to day and the availability can, too.

Internet Sources

Levels of Sources

Primary The information is from the source

Birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates, or other ORIGINAL documents

Creative works like poetry, short story, etc. Relics or Artifacts

Secondary The information is interpreted from the primary source

These sources are one or more steps removed from the primary source.

They may have pieces or pictures of the primary source, but then reflects further.

Criticisms, commentaries, news and magazine articles, etc. are examples

Quality of Sources

Quality means… It is reputable It is reliable It has sources

How do I check for quality? Use the source Evaluation Sheet (A.P.B) Be discriminating

A=Authority

The first step to checking your source is to look at the authority.

The authority is what makes the source credible or what makes the source something to listen to.

Purpose/Intended Audience

The second step is to look at who the source is written for.

Answer the questions to figure out whether or not the source is appropriate for you and your audience.

Bias vs. Objective

The final step is to look carefully at what perspective the source has.

Answer the questions to figure out if the source has an agenda or is the straight story.