Evaluation of Sources (150 points)

Due: Monday, June 27th at 11:59 pm

 

Researchers crafting a reliable and relevant research project must always carefully evaluate information before they decide to use it. In this assignment, you will utilize your information literacy skills in order to locate and critique a variety of sources that may be applicable to your Topic

 In particular, you will examine a total of six sources that fall into the each of the following categories; you can use the sources you have found already just evaluate them with the criteria below. 

• Two books

• Two articles from academic databases

• Two websites or articles from the World Wide Web

 *Please try to include sources in the formats listed above.  I know that some of you have topics where that will be an issue just shoot me an email if that is the case.  For example, you might not have any books for your topic.*

After locating your sources, compose an APA or MLA citation for each source. Next, evaluate each source based on the criteria listed below.  I have provided questions to consider for each criterion but you don't need to answer every question for every criterion.  Please provide at least 3 sentences for each criterion.

1. RELEVANCY: Does the source relate to your topic and how? Does it support or refute your topic?  Keep in mind that it might not match every point you make but instead, may support one or two parts of you research question very well.  Also, if you have several articles that already provide the same information then it may be redundant and not a good source. You might also scan the article or book's introduction, abstract, table of contents, and conclusion for information that will support your topic.  We do this scanning without even thinking about it especially with books. 

2.  ACCURACY: Do you detect any biases, unsupported claims, dubious support, or faulty reasoning in this source? If so, provide specific examples and explain how they affect the value of the source. What information does the author give as support? Where does the data come from?  Are there citations and references to where data came from? Is the information presented as fact or opinion?  Is the information written free of errors?

3. CURRENCY:Is the source up-to-date (no more than five years old)? How, if at all, does the age of the source affect its relevancy? Explain. Is there evidence of newly added or updated information in the topic? If the information is dated is it still relevant.  

4. AUTHORITY: Does the author have the experience and/or credentials necessary to be considered an authority on the subject?  Where do they work?  What qualifies the author to write about the topic? What organization published the article? Explain.

5. PURPOSE: - What is the purpose of the article? To inform, persuade, sell or entertain? Is the article presented from multiple points of view? Does the author omit important facts or data? Is the information clearly presented? Who is the intended audience?

6. RATING: On a scale of 1-5, where 1 means “poor” and 5 means “excellent”, how would you rate the overall quality of this source? Briefly, outline the rationale behind your rating.

 

IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Formatting of this assignment

You will provide a citation then number each criterion as listed above and answer the questions.  So when you are all done you will have 6 citations and there will be numbering 1-6

 

Example:

Lastname, Firstname (Year). Title of Book. Publisher Location: Publisher.

1. Relevancy –

2. Accuracy –

3. Currency -

4. Authority -

5. Purpose -

6. Rating -