1. Credible Sources
How to Find Them!

2. Credibility Definition:
1.capable of being believed; believable: a credible statement.
2.worthy of belief or confidence; trustworthy: a credible witness.
Credibility is important!
If you use credible sources, you can believe them, and your readers can believe you.

3. General Guidelines for Research
Always try to find the most primary source.
Start with the databases on the Media Center website (ELM, ProQuest, etc.) because these sources have already been checked for credibility.
Be careful when you use Google to search. The first sources that appear in your search are not necessarily the most credible!
Know what kind of information you are looking for before you start researching.

4. How do I know if my sources are credible?
Most books you find in library nonfiction are credible.
Most large newspapers are credible.
New York Times
Charlotte Observer
Washington Post
Scholarly journals are usually credible.
JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association)
Most government publications and websites (.gov) are credible.
Reputable organizations are usually credible.
American Cancer Society
World Health Organization
American Red Cross
Most information from colleges is credible.
.edu websites
The JFK Media Center databases contains MANY credible sources (ProQuest, CQ Researcher, etc.). Start research here!

5. How do I know if my sources are credible?
You can automatically rule out:
Wikipedia
Facebook
Geocities
Blogs
Personal sites
Yahoo Answers

6. Using the Internet for Research
The internet offers the BEST information on MANY topics.
The internet offers the WORST information on MOST topics.
You can use internet resources for research, but you have to be careful.

7. Credible Internet Sources
Ways to tell a credible internet source:
Contains information about the author, editors, and/or organization
Has a copyright date and other info. that you need for your source card
Looks professional
All or most links are working
Information offered is easy to verify
The website offers links to where they found their information and works cited information
The sources of their information are also credible

8. Credible Internet Sources
It is easy to contact the owners of the website for more information or to ask questions
The site is up to date
There are no errors
The site uses proper spelling and grammar
The website is appropriate
There is no inappropriate language, graphics, or photos

9. Credible Internet Sources
These guidelines are not 100%
When in doubt, ask for help from a teacher or librarian
If you’re still not sure, DON’T use it
Be careful with .com sites
Most .com sites are trying to sell something, which means they are all biased in some way
Sites with lots of advertisements are usually less credible

10. Citing Sources With MLA

11. Source Cards
Use the Owl at Purdue site to help you create your source cards in MLA format!
You might not always be able to find all of this information, but get as much as you can.

12. Goals for Today
Find at least two more credible and relevant sources (three for partners) for the Culture Speech. At least one of the sources should be information about the cultural artifact that you are using!
Print the sources out or check them out from the Media Center.
Make your source cards using Owl at Purdue as a resource.
If time, create more research cards.

13. If you don’t ask, you’ll never know.
Questions and Answers
If you don’t ask, you’ll never know.