Evaluating Print Sources

Here is a list of necessary criteria for print materials:

1. Accuracy

2. Authority

3. Objectivity

4. Currency

5. Coverage

The criterion for print materials is similar to that of internet sites.

However when evaluating print sources keep the following points in mind:

What type of audience is the author addressing? Is the content of this publication aimed at a specialized or a general audience? Does this source suit your needs in terms of technicality?

Is the information covered fact, opinion, or propaganda? Here, you must discern fact from opinion. Facts can usually be systematically verified; opinions, though they may be based on factual information, evolve from the interpretation of facts.

Are there any errors or omissions. Are there any assertions not supported by factual information?

Is the author's point of view objective and impartial? Look for emotion-arousing words that may signal bias.

Is the material primary or secondary in nature? Primary sources (interviews, etc.) are the raw material of the research process. Secondary sources (Books, encyclopedia articles, and scholarly journal articles) are based on primary sources.

Evaluate criticism of the works you find!!!

Do the critics agree? or is it a controversial work?

The easiest way to distinguish a book review from literary criticism is the time of publication of the review/critical article compared to the original publication date of the book. Book reviews are written around the time that the work is published; literary criticism often appears in later years. Apart from that, one may decide to read some of the content or ask a reference librarian to help tell the difference.

All website content by Alysia Belle (see reference page for citations unless noted on a specific page)

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