ENG 151: Information Literacy - Source Evaluation

Information literacy is defined as knowing when you need information, then knowing how to find it, evaluate it, and use it effectively.

In this session, we'll focus on the evaluate part of that definition.

You’ll learn how to apply some general evaluation criteria and use a process called lateral reading to help you:

1. Identify what kind of source you have.
2. Evaluate the quality of the source using multiple criteria.
3. Assess the strengths and limitations of the source.
4. Decide if the source is useful for your information need.

The Research Process

1. Information need: What is your assignment asking you to find? 
2. Pre-research: Choose a topic, learn more about it, narrow it down, find keywords.
3. Research question: What is your assignment asking you to create?
4. Search strategy: Where will you look for information?
5. Search: Start with the main ideas of your topic or research question.
6. Evaluate every source you find - for credibility and usefulness.
7. Cite: You have found credible sources and answered your research question!