Discerning Credible Sources from Non-Credible Sources
There is a ton of information out there! When writers research information for a project (essay, book, film, etc.) they make sure to check the credibility (the degree of "truth") of their sources.
Strong writers and readers identify credible online sources by examining if the website/source:
* is recently updated/ recently published * has an author or authors * references other sources including studies, charts, statistics, etc. * is sponsored by a credible organization/agency ( not all organizations are legitimate). * is fact-based and not opinion-based * is visually neat and has no "inappropriate" pop-ups
Government and Organizational Websites
Government websites - those with the .gov designation - are great places to find statistics on just about any subject. Because the research is backed by a federally funded agency, you can rest assured that the information is reliable. Organizational websites that represent professional or scientific groups can be great sources, too.
The Web's most reliable news sources tend to be the same as those with respected corresponding print publications, like the New York Times. While Reuters and The Associated Press do not have print publications, they supply the nation's newspapers and media outlets with hard news stories. For students looking to National Public Radio (NPR)for information, their website usually offers transcripts of on-air interviews.