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Dual Credit ENG 151 - SIFT Method for Evaluating Sources

This guide explains how to use the SIFT Method for evaluating sources. SIFT stands for Stop, Investigate the claim, Find better coverage, and Trace back to the original source.

The Research Process

steps of the research process: Information need, pre-research, research question, search strategy, search, evaluate, and cite.

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!