When deciding which articles to use to support the ideas and arguments in your paper, ask yourself: is it good, or is it craap?!
Currency
- The timeliness (publication date) of the information. Is the information up to date?
- Broken links or an old publication date indicates the page has not been updated recently.
Relevance
- The importance of the information for your needs.
- Consider your audience and compare with a variety of sources.
Authority
- The source (author, publisher, sponsor) of the information.
- Check for contact information and the credentials of the author.
Accuracy
- The reliability (source, evidence, truthfulness) of the information.
- Think about the source and look for evidence of objectivity, bias or error.
Purpose
- The reason (teach, sell, entertain) the information exists.
- Identify the type of information (fact or opinion) and the intent of the author.
