Finding Reliable Sources

Primary Sources Primary sources are works created at the time of an event, or by a person who directly experienced an event

Primary Sources Primary sources can include Interviews, diaries, letters, journals, speeches, autobiographies, and witness statements Articles containing original research, data, or findings never before shared Original, hand-written manuscripts Government documents and public records Art, photographs, films, maps, fiction, and music Newspaper and magazine clippings Artifacts, buildings, furniture, and clothing

Secondary Sources Secondary sources are works that are one step removed from the original event or experience provide criticism or interpretation of a primary source

Secondary Sources Secondary sources can include Textbooks Review articles and critical analysis essays Biographies Historical films, music, and art Articles about people and events from the past

Credibility of Sources Graphic Representation Event Primary Source Secondary Source You

Online Sources: 5 Things to Look For 1) Accountability – Anyone can create a website. Who wrote or created the page? Is the person qualified to write the document? Is a contact or e-mail address provided? ANONYMOUS sources should not be used. Find another source!

1. Accountability Consider the domain identified by the last three letters of the website’s URL: .com or .net commercial sites – may have hidden agendas for items posted on their websites. .org non-profit groups – look for sponsors who support these groups. Are there hidden agendas here? .edu educational institutions – accountable to academic integrity. .gov government agencies – accountable to legal and public parties.

2. Accuracy Look for possible hyperlinks to the original or primary source for the information posted in the website. Look for errors in a website. If the grammar and mechanics of the website are incorrect, then the content of the information may also have errors.

3. Objectivity Is the author biased? Is there a balance of credible facts and information?

4. Currency Factual data needs to have a recent date. If the website does not include the date the site was created or when the website was last updated, then avoid using the content of the site. NOTE: If a website has dead links or fails to indicate a recent update, then the website may not be current.

5. Usability Is the website easy to use? Can other people find what you found when you entered the website? Note: If the people managing the website do not care about maintaining their site, they probably do not care enough to research information on topics they write about nor will they probably keep their information up to date.

Practice Tanning - http://www.ehow.com/how-to_4845392__relatively_-safe-tan.html Migratory Bird Conservation Commission - http://www.fws.gov/refuges/realty/mbcc.html Daft Punk - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daft_Punk

Group Work Group yourselves into groups of four to determine if the provided website printouts are credible sources. Use the information you obtained today from the PowerPoint presentation. This is due before the end of class!