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11 Honors: Research Exploration: Identifying and Assessing Sources

English 11 Honors: Research Project

Identifying and Evaluating Sources

Research Tip

Tips on Source Analysis:

  • A note about authority:  No matter the type of source, you must identify who is responsible for the content, and determine their credentials, expertise and overall qualification as a recognized expert in the field.  Is the book or article written by a professor or other highly qualified individual?
  • Scholarly sources focus on particular aspects of topics in the field and develop deep analysis based on research.

TIps for Lateral Reading

Websites

  • Google the title of the website
  • Check Wikipedia

Scholarly Articles

  • Google the title of the article
  • Check Retraction Watch

News Claims

  • Google the claim 
  • Use information in the news source to trace back to the scholarly study

Resources for Analyzing Sources

SIFT Infographic

Resources for Analyzing Sources

SIFT Handout

Reminder: Use SIFT to ensure your sources are credible and reliable.  You should perform the "S & I" steps for all sources.

SIFT Video

SIFT Assessment for Online Resources