Broad Scholars: Evaluation & Citation Resources

There are many sources of information to search when doing research on a particular topic. These can include: books, periodicals (magazines, journals, newspapers), Web sites, and government documents. It is essential throughout your research that all sources be evaluated for their usefulness and accuracy. Here are a few questions to ask yourself while you are reading through your sources to help you evaluate: 

• Who is the author of the work? What do you know about him/her? What makes him/her an expert on the subject?
• What is the perspective of the author(s)? What is the intent of the piece (to inform, persuade, sell, etc.)?
• How old is the material? When was the research conducted?
• Are their other references to this work? Can this research be validated with other sources?
• Is the research fully referenced with sources to support its argument?

Additional Resources:

Find a number of examples of how to cite both print and electronic sources using APA, MLA, and Chicago style, as well as many other styles.