Use these three tips for choosing sources for your next research paper.

1. Sources for
your research
paper
What do you
use? How do you
access them?

2. You’ve got to write a
3-5 page research
paper using 4-6
credible sources
• What’s credible?
• Do I need to go to
the library for my
research?
Would you believe that
Wikipedia is just as credible as
many of the print reference
books on the library shelves?
You shouldn’t use a source like
Wikipedia, but for reasons
beyond credibility.

3. Put credibility aside
for a moment …
1. Is your source APPROPRIATE
for the task?
Not all sources of information
are appropriate for academic
writing. For example, most
encyclopedias are generally
considered inappropriate for
academic research – NOT
because they are not credible.
Encyclopedias usually skim the
surface of a topic rather than go
in depth. As a result, your
instructors would prefer you
use other sources.
• We still expect you to
use credible sources!
• But it may be easier to
think about your
sources in these three
ways…

4. Put credibility aside
for a moment …
2. Is your source ACCESSIBLE
afterwards?
Print sources (books, journals)
will be kept in a library long
after they’re published. This is
not always the case for online
(Internet) sources.
Keep in mind the types of
information included in your
bibliography or works cited
page. If your web page source
lacks vital information such as
author or date, think twice
about using it!
• We still expect you to
use credible sources!
• But it may be easier to
think about your
sources in these three
ways…

5. Put credibility aside
for a moment …
• We still expect you to
use credible sources!
• But it may be easier to
think about your
sources in these three
ways…
3. Is your source
AUTHORITATIVE?
The purpose of the bibliography
is so that readers of your paper,
if they are so inclined, can look
at the sources you used so that
they can learn more about the
subject. That is, you – the
expert on the topic – are
recommending those sources in
your bibliography!
Remember, your choice of
sources is also a reflection of
your authority as an expert!

6. Make sure your
sources are …
• APPROPRIATE
• ACCESSIBLE, and
• AUTHORITATIVE
Why use the
Library’s resources?
The Library has already
filtered most of the
information on its shelves
and databases so that it
meets these qualifications.
This doesn’t mean you
can’t use Google for your
research. BUT, if you do,
remember those
expectations.
… as well as credible!