Finding Reliable Sources

Primary Sources

Primary sources are works createdat the time of an event, orby a person who directly experienced an

event

Primary Sources

Primary sources can includeInterviews, diaries, letters, journals, speeches,

autobiographies, and witness statementsArticles containing original research, data, or

findings never before shared Original, hand-written manuscriptsGovernment documents and public recordsArt, photographs, films, maps, fiction, and musicNewspaper and magazine clippingsArtifacts, buildings, furniture, and clothing

Secondary Sources

Secondary sources are works thatare one step removed from the original event

or experienceprovide criticism or interpretation of a

primary source

Secondary Sources

Secondary sources can includeTextbooksReview articles and critical analysis essaysBiographiesHistorical films, music, and artArticles about people and events from the

past

Credibility of Sources Graphic Representation

Event

Primary Source

Secondary Source

You

Online Sources: 5 Things to Look For

1) Accountability –Anyone can create a website.

Who wrote or created the page? Is the person qualified to write the document? Is a contact or e-mail address provided?

ANONYMOUS sources should not be used. Find another source!

1. Accountability

Consider the domain identified by the last three letters of the website’s URL:

.com or .net commercial sites – may have hidden agendas for items posted on their websites.

.org non-profit groups – look for sponsors who support these groups. Are there

hidden agendas here?

.edu educational institutions – accountable to academic integrity.

.gov government agencies – accountable to legal and public parties.

2. Accuracy

Look for possible hyperlinks to the original or primary source for the information posted in the website.

Look for errors in a website. If the grammar and mechanics of the website are incorrect, then the content of the information may also have errors.

3. Objectivity

Is the author biased?Is there a balance of credible facts and

information?

4. Currency

Factual data needs to have a recent date.If the website does not include the date the site

was created or when the website was last updated, then avoid using the content of the site.

NOTE: If a website has dead links or fails to indicate a recent update, then the website may not be current.

5. Usability

Is the website easy to use?Can other people find what you found when

you entered the website?

Note: If the people managing the website do not care about maintaining their site, they probably do not care enough to research information on topics they write about nor will they probably keep their information up to date.

Practice

Tanning - http://www.ehow.com/how-to_4845392__relatively_-safe-tan.html

Migratory Bird Conservation Commission - http://www.fws.gov/refuges/realty/mbcc.html

Daft Punk - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daft_Punk

Group Work

Group yourselves into groups of four to determine if the provided website printouts are credible sources. Use the information you obtained today from the PowerPoint presentation.

This is due before the end of class!