Criteria for deciding which articles best support the ideas and arguments in your paper:
Scope
- What is the purpose of the resource and what does it contain?
- Is it comprehensive and does it explore the subject in depth?
- What does it exclude? Are any limitations discussed?
- Who is the target audience?
- Is it too basic or too technical for your needs?
Authority
- Is the author's name given?
- Are her/his qualifications specified?
- Is the author an expert in this field?
- Is the author affiliated with a reputable institution or organization?
- What is the author's relationship to the information contained in the source?
- Has the author written elsewhere on this topic?
- If it is an organization or business website, are they qualified to speak on this topic?
- Are additional electronic and print sources referenced to complement or support the material presented?
- Has this author been cited by others?
Objectivity
- Does the information provided inform, explain, persuade?
- Is the author's point of view impartial and objective?
- Are counter-arguments acknowledged?
- Does it contain facts, opinions, or biases?
Accuracy
- Is the information factual, not opinion?
- How valid is the research that is the source?
- Are the results accurate, and are they supported by the data and methodology presented?
- Does this support or contradict other articles?
- Are references to other works given?
- For websites: Is the site free of errors in spelling or grammar and other signs of carelessness in its presentation of the material?
Currency
- Is the content of the work current?
- Is a publication date or the date of the most recent update (website) provided?
- Is timeliness important?
Adapted from Hanover College Library
