Use the rubric to the right as a guide in selecting the best resources.
from the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL)
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0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Substance Who is the intended audience for the information? Score ____ |
No depth or written for children. |
Lacking the depth needed for your purpose. |
Written for the general public. |
Written for academics or others in the profession. |
Currency When was the information published, posted, Score ____ |
Publication date, copyright date or posting date cannot be determined. |
Source is more than 5 years old and has no historical value or is out of date. |
Source is 3-5 years old or has some historical value. Updates have been noted AND original publication date is listed. Links to outside sources are relevant and functional. |
Source is less than 3 years old and is a current source of its type on the topic, or it is a primary source. |
Authority Who created the information? Score ____ |
Author and/or publisher are not named. Author has no expertise or background in the topic. Information has been self-published with no oversight. |
Author is named, but credentials cannot be verified or credentials are unrelated to topic (e.g., journalist). |
Author is named and relevant credentials are verifiable, or the publisher is a credible source on this topic. |
Author’s name & credentials are provided, can be verified, and demonstrate probable expertise on topic. Publisher is reputable. |
Relevance How important is Score ____ |
Source is unrelated to the research topic. Purpose of the information can’t be determined. |
The source is related to the topic, but the information is not very useful. |
The information is useful as overview or background. |
The information is directly related to the topic and can be verified in other quality, reliable sources. |
Accuracy How correct is Score ____ |
Content is irrelevant or it contains obvious errors or no sources of content or images are mentioned. |
Sources of information are mentioned but not formally cited. No bibliography or links to primary sources. |
Formally cited or includes links to primary sources or source is specific to the industry. |
Formally cited and from a peer-reviewed, academic or professional source or it is a primary source. |
Bias Why does the information exist? Score ____ |
Source is unfair. Contains extreme or negative language meant to demean or offend. Images are misleading. |
Purpose is to persuade but provides no evidence to support the argument. |
Purpose is to inform. The source is persuasive and supports arguments well. Language is free of emotion. |
Purpose is to share research. Issues are examined fairly and/or is primarily fact-based. |
Total Score: ______ |
0 to 6 pts. Highly questionable source. |
7 to 10 pts. Useful for personal purposes, but not appropriate for college-level research. |
11 to 14 pts. Possibly a good source for academic research, but better sources may be available. |
15 to 18 pts. Excellent source for academic research. |
Disclaimer: This rubric is intended to provide guidance in evaluating information sources
and may not work for every source or information need.
Some resources may be appropriate for your need but may not score high in every category.
When in doubt, ask your instructor or a Reference Librarian for assistance.
McHenry County College Library - Updated for accessibility April 2017; rev. April 2020
In addition to using the rubric, think about the following as you skim your source.
What kind of language is used?
When was the information published?
Who wrote the information?
TIP: Look for an About section of the website. Who is behind the content and what is their purpose?
Does the source meet the needs of your research?
Is the information correct?
Does the source use extreme language, or does it discuss an issue fairly and support it with cited evidence?
Helpful Terms to Know
Scholarly or Academic Journal |
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Trade or Professional Journal |
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Primary source |
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Secondary Source |
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Source: Online Dictionary of Library & Information Science |