Finding Credible Sources Online Learning how to evaluate sources for research paper writing is a key component to your research paper’s success. Here are five tips to help you as you gather your sources

Start with a simple search Search engines, such as Google or Yahoo! are great places to start when you’re first reading up on the assigned writing topic.

Avoid Wikipedia Print and digital encyclopedias, such as Encyclopedia Britannica and InfoPlease.com are excellent sources from which to gather material. But be careful of sites such as Wikipedia that allow multiple users to edit.

Databases Use online scholarly databases such as EBSCO, which provide access to the latest research in hundreds of areas. Go to Uhs.twpunionschools.org Click on the Media Center link Click on Databases

Newspapers and magazines Newspapers and magazines are also rich sources of information. Consider browsing through the New York Times, TIME, and the Wall Street Journal.

Don’t forget the library Often this rich source of information is overlooked because students think it’s more convenient to look subjects up online. The problem with that is you miss out on grabbing a book or magazine that might just be the perfect source for your research paper.

How do I know if my source is credible? Expert Author: The author should be an authority on the subject matter. The article will typically list the author’s academic degree and affiliate institution. Author Objectivity: It should be clear that the author’s purpose is to inform, educate and explain. The author’s arguments should be support by properly cited facts from multiple sources. Peer Reviews: The article should be reviewed by other experts in the author’s field of study. You can find peer-reviewed articles in scholarly journal databases such as InfoTrac and LexisNexis.

How do I know if my source is credible? Reputable Scholarly Journal: The article you’re citing should appear in a university press, an academic press or a peer-reviewed press. Robust Bibliography: A credible source from a scholarly journal or database should contain a bibliography or references list that demonstrates the depth and breadth of the author’s research. High-Quality Content: The author’s material should be clearly organized and relevant to the topic at hand. And of course, the article should be well written and free of grammatical and spelling errors.