ENG 123 Lecture 10: Intermediate Composition Lecture Notes 10
Sources: Should you Evaluate Them?
Choosing Relevant Sources
Sources are relevant when they help you achieve your aims your readers
-Explains terms or concepts
-Provides background information
-Provides evidence in support of your claims
-Provides alternative viewpoints or interpretations
-Lends authority to your point of view
Relevance: We're still Talking about It
-If you have to many sources limit the results by language, publication date, publication/source type, etc.
-Skim sources first to figure out which aspect of the topic is addressed or which approach to the topic is taken
-Look at headings references, tables of contents, indices to see how much of the content is specifically about
your topic
-Consider the way the source is taken. Too general? Too technical?
Choosing Reliable Sources
-Is the author an expert? Make sure her or his area of expertise is directly relevant to the topic
-Check where authors work and or teach. Make sure affiliation is current
-Look to se what other works the author has published, and with whom
-If published on a website, determine if the cite screens contributors. Double check any information taken from
a site for which you can't determine the credentials of contributors
-consider the author's perspective. Assess bias and determine if it affects author's presentation of the topic.
More About Choosing Reliable Sources
-What evidence does the author provide to support his or her points? Is it from authoritative sources? Is it
persuasive?
-Does the author make concessions or refute opposing arguments?
-Does the author avoid fallacies , confrontational phrasing, and loaded words?
-How recently was it published? In general, more recent is better, but you may want to consult classic works as
well
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Document Summary
Sources are relevant when they help you achieve your aims your readers. If you have to many sources limit the results by language, publication date, publication/source type, etc. Skim sources first to figure out which aspect of the topic is addressed or which approach to the topic is taken. Look at headings references, tables of contents, indices to see how much of the content is specifically about your topic. Make sure her or his area of expertise is directly relevant to the topic. Look to se what other works the author has published, and with whom. If published on a website, determine if the cite screens contributors. Double check any information taken from a site for which you can"t determine the credentials of contributors. Assess bias and determine if it affects author"s presentation of the topic.
