Make a page like this in your Blogger blog and make a chart where you evaluate your sources using these guidelines: . . .
Create a working bibliography
When you begin to collect resources, make sure you get full bibliographic information for everything you might want to use in your project: articles, books, websites, and other materials. This class will be using MLA documentation style.
Find the necessary bibliographic information
See the Keeping track of sources page for the forms you will need to collect information for each of your sources. In general, as you research and develop a working bibliography, the rule of thumb is to write down more information rather than less. You can always delete unnecessary information when it comes time to format your citations according to MLA, but it is time-consuming to go back to sources to find missing bibliographic information.
Evaluating Print SourcesIt is important that you consider the reliability of sources before you use them in your work. The quality of your sources will play a central role in determining how persuasive and credible your audience finds your project.
For each of your print sources, consider the following questions.
- Source. Who published this book or article? Who considers this source reputable?
- Author. Who wrote this book or article? What qualifications does the author possess?
- Timeliness. When was this source first published? Are its argument and information still timely?
- Evidence. Where does the author’s evidence come from? Does the evidence adequately support the author’s claims?
- Bias. Can you detect particular biases of the author? How do the author’s biases affect his or her arguments and conclusions?
- Advertising. Is advertising a prominent part of the source you’re using? How might these ads have affected the kinds of information that this source publishes?
- Should you use this source? If so, how will it support your project?
- Will your audience find this source credible and persuasive? Why?
- Is the credibility of this source suspect in any way? How?
Evaluating Web Sources
It is particularly important that you assess the credibility of online sources. After all, people and institutions publish on the Internet for a wide range of reasons—to disseminate information, to sell products, to express their own ideas and opinions, and even to deceive others. It’s your job to determine the reliability of any online source you intend to use in your project.
For each of your online sources, consider the following questions.
- Source. What organization sponsors or pays for the Web site? What does this sponsor indicate about the credibility of the site?
- Author. Who is the author? What qualifications does the author possess?
- Timeliness. When was this site first published online? When was it last updated? Are its argument and information still timely?
- Evidence. Where does the author’s evidence come from? Does the evidence adequately support the author’s claims?
- Bias. Can you detect particular biases of the author? How do the author’s biases affect his or her arguments and conclusions?
- References. Are references provided for information given on the site? If so, who considers these references reputable?
- Links. Are there links to additional information? Do the links work? Is the linked information reliable? Do these links offer further insight into the author’s biases?
- Advertising. Is the Web site an advertisement for a product, place, or service? If so, how does this affect the credibility of the site?
Now, for each of your online sources, answer the following questions.
Directions: In your Bibliography & Evaluation of Sources page make a list of each source you will use in your project and answer the questions below. (Do not list every bibliographic source but only your Works Cited sources.)
- Should you use this source? If so, how will it support your project?
- Will your audience find this source credible and persuasive? Why?
- Is the credibility of this source suspect in any way? How?
[Material taken from Lester Faigley's The Brief Penguin Handbook p189-192)]
