You can evaluate whether books, articles, or other sources would be right for your project by following many of the same criteria you use to evaluate websites.
- Who's the author?
- Anyone can write a book or article. Just because someone has an opinion does not mean that he/she is an authority on the subject.
- Articles written by scholars (experts in their field--like your professors!), which you can find in academic journals, are held to a high standard and are evaluated by other experts for credibility, accuracy, and quality of writing. Similarly, articles written by newspaper or magazine staff members are held to a higher standard than letters-to-the-editor and opinion pieces, which are submitted by the general public
- What's the author's background? What makes him/her qualified to write a book (or article) on this topic?
- Why did the author write this book/article?
- Is it informative, persuasive, biased?
- How is the information presented?
- Is it well written?
- Are the author's sources cited?
- Does the author back up his/her claims with evidence, or does he/she spout unfounded opinions?
- How current is the book/article? Research builds upon earlier work. If the article isn't current, the information presented will not reflect contemporary knowledge of the issue.
