Kiah FintonJordan HarrisRebecca Riffle

Group 4 D

How to Determine Whether a Source is Significant and Accurate…….

• Should relate to your topic of interest• Should give clear pertinent information• Author should have background education and

experience in the area• Author’s credentials(BA, PhD, etc) should

pertain to topic• Should show no opinion on the subject,

unbiased information( Avoid I think, I feel subjects)

Biased Information

• Your information may be biased if……..– The Author’s opinion is clearly stated– The Publisher and/or the Author could have

monetary motives– Historical facts, after cross-checking, don’t turn

out to be true

Unbiased Information

• Your information is considered unbiased if……– The facts used in the work can be checked– There are NO personal ideas/thoughts from the

Author within the work– The piece is peer-reviewed(articles)

Researched Information and Your Own Ideas

• A well rounded finished paper should include researched info and your own thoughts in one cohesive whole.– Any assignment is meant to get you thinking about

the world, as well as the topic assigned– Think about where you stand on the topic. Don’t

let your thoughts influence what information you choose

Visual Aids

• Using graphs and photographs can add a lot to your finished paper or project, but you have to be sure the information shown is…..– Useful to your topic– Clear and easy to understand– Accurate

Example: Graph That is Unclear and Hard to Follow

Graphs and Photos used for Visual Aids Should be Checked for Accuracy.

How to Cite Your Sources…….

• First choose your format….– ALA– MLA– IN-Text– Harvard

Why is Citing Important?

• Giving credit to the Author• Owning your ideas• Avoiding Plagiarism(academic policies)• Consequences– Failing– Permanent record– Expulsion

Evaluating a Source…..

• Source:– Creep the Author– Creep the reason for publishing– Creep the Author’s sources– Look for bias material or language

Evaluating a Website…….

• http://www.freebmicalculator.netChecked information against CDC

Information on BMI charts.Couldn’t find AuthorPublisher-certified health professional

Evaluating a Article…..

• Protein Pros, Better Nutrition Magazine– Not peer reviewed– Author background, Physical Trainer– Publisher could have had motives to sell more

copies, information still useful.– Biased toward high protein/low carb diets

Evaluating a Book….

• Weight Loss for Life; Weight-Control Information Network(WIN)– Author: credible in field– Publisher: NIH(National Institutes of Health)

Credible with no bias toward topic– Book affiliated with: NIDDK and DHHS– Book provided other available resources on the

topic