Reliable Sources Know them use them If its

Reliable Sources Know them, use them.

If it’s on the internet, it’s true…right? Oh, young students, how I cringe when I see you picking random websites to use as sources. Not all sites are reliable. What is a reliable source? Well, let me tell you…

Ok, so what is a reliable source? The definition of a reliable source is any source that has competence in the field of interest, without any biases or conflicts of interest related to the topic. Finding reliable sources is important in order to ensure that what is written or reported is accurate.

Things to consider when judging if a source is reliable.

What kind of website is it?

Is the website providing a service or a product to sell?

Are there sponsored links or ads?

Is it a. com site?

Is the page supported by a group, organization, or company? What does the group stand to gain by convincing others of its points? . orgs can be both non-profit and for-profit organizations. Make sure you know which they are.

. gov and. edu. These types of websites are more likely to provide objective information and don’t contain ads or sponsored links because they are highly regulated.

Is the information coming from a personal website, blog, or a website intended for sharing personal opinions about an issue? Tildes (~) (www. who/what. where~mypage) or percent signs (%) (www. who/what. where%me) followed by personal names or initials usually indicate personal websites.

When you've identified the purpose of the website, ask yourself: "Who wrote this information? Is the author an expert on this topic? Is she very opinionated on this topic? How does that influence what they have written? "

Next, ask yourself what sort of evidence the author provides for the points he or she is trying to make.

Finally, consider when this information was published or last updated. Over time, the way a topic is written about may change completely. Make sure the site is up to date or still relevant.