Compare Evaluating Resources With Evaluating Whether or Not Lend Someone Money

If someone asked you to lend them ten dollars, would you lend it to them?

For most people, it depends on who is asking for the ten dollars. If your father or your sister asked for ten dollars, you would probably say yes. If a stranger asked you to lend them ten dollars, you would want to know more about who they are and why they want the money. In other words, you would evaluate if the person is trustworthy as well as the reasons they are asking for the money.

When you use another person’s book, study, or ideas to build an analysis or argument, you must evaluate their work in a similar way. It is important to determine if you can trust the author and the publisher, as well as their intentions. Their ideas must also be convincing to your audience, which in most cases is academic and scholarly. For this reason, your resources should also be academic, as well as relevant and reputable.

Detailed, Printable Evaluation Criteria

Here are some questions to ask when you are evaluating books, articles, websites, or any other materials:

• Is the information relevant to my project?
• Am I using it as a primary or a secondary resource?
• Who is the author?
• Are they an expert on this subject?
• How did the author get their information?
• Do other people trust the author or publication?
• Is the information up to date?
• Is it scholarly?
• Who does the author expect to read / use their work?
• Is the information based on research rather than opinion?

Links:

Evaluating Information

Evaluating a Website (From Diane Beamon at Belmont Highschool)

How to Evaluate Information On the Web (From Widener University