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Evaluating Sources

Learning how to evaluate effectively is a skill you need both for your studies and your life. Evaluating sources is Like detective work: you have to decide where to look, what clues to look for, and what to accept. Evaluating sources is an important step in any research activity.

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Yengchien Wong
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76 views

Evaluating Sources

Learning how to evaluate effectively is a skill you need both for your studies and your life. Evaluating sources is Like detective work: you have to decide where to look, what clues to look for, and what to accept. Evaluating sources is an important step in any research activity.

Uploaded by

Yengchien Wong
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Evaluating Sources

August 2010 / C Yin


1
EVALUATING SOURCES
Christina Yin
Evaluating Sources
August 2010 / C Yin
2
Acknowledgements
Thanks to the Purdue Online Writing Lab
Contributors:
Dana Lynn Driscoll and
Allen Brizee
Evaluating Sources
August 2010 / C Yin
3
The World is full of information

However, not all of it is valid, useful, or accurate.
Evaluating sources of information that we are
considering using in our writing or presentations
is an important step in any research activity.
Evaluating Sources
August 2010 / C Yin
4
Problems

Quantity of information is so vast,
we cant read it all
we cant know it all
Quality is so varied
we must try to decide which studies have produced
reliable results

Evaluating Sources
August 2010 / C Yin
5
Information comes in many forms:
books
magazines
pamphlets
newspapers
journals
brochures
web sites and
various media reports

Evaluating Sources
August 2010 / C Yin
6
People want to convince us to
buy their products
agree with their opinions
rely on their data
consider their perspective or
accept them as experts.
Evaluating Sources
August 2010 / C Yin
7
Making Decisions
We have to sift and make decisions all the time,
and want to make responsible choices that we
won't regret.

Evaluating Sources
August 2010 / C Yin
8
Evaluating sources
is an important skill.
Like detective work, you have to decide
where to look,
what clues to search for, and
what to accept.

Evaluating Sources
August 2010 / C Yin
9
Dont
be overwhelmed with too much information or
too little.
accept whatever you find.
Learning how to evaluate effectively is a skill you
need both for your studies and your life.


Evaluating Sources
August 2010 / C Yin
10
Whether writing research papers or
preparing oral presentations,
you will need to evaluate sources as you search
for information.
You will need to make decisions about
what to search for,
where to look, and
once you've found material on your topic, if it is a valid
or useful source for your writing or speech.


Evaluating Sources
August 2010 / C Yin
11
Unacceptable sources
Blogs (unless by respected authorities)
Discussion forums (unless by known experts in
the field)
Personal websites
Unauthorised websites


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August 2010 / C Yin
12
Wikipedia
How to use Wikipedia
It is useful as it gives a quick overview on a
topic.
However, you cannot use it as a source since
the authors are unknown.
You CAN go to the articles list of references and
read those from reliable sources; and use them
as your sources.
Evaluating Sources
August 2010 / C Yin
13
Reliable Sources
News agencies like Reuters, AFP and AP
Newspapers like the New York Times, London
Times, The New Straits Times, The Star.
News magazines like Time, Newsweek, The
Economist
Media like the BBC, CNN and Bloomsberg
Respected academic journals and databases.
Evaluating Sources
August 2010 / C Yin
14
Dont leave everything till the last minute!
Evaluating Sources
August 2010 / C Yin
15
Plan your time wisely
A thorough search
for information
cannot be
achieved over
night.
Organise your
time well and
Be systematic in
your search.
Evaluating Sources
August 2010 / C Yin
16
How to get help
Lecturers consultation
hours
Daily English
Language Clinic
2
nd
Floor G Block,
Room 214
Evaluating Sources
August 2010 / C Yin
17
THANK YOU

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