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ENGL 1102 - Nielsen - Spring 2024: Evaluating Information

Know Your Information

Please note: This image is not the product of Georgia Southern University. Courtesy of Oakland University Libraries 

What is a scholarly source?

Differentiating between scholarly & non-scholarly/popular information

Scholarly information can be described as information by and for scholars or academic audiences. Scholarly information is peer-reviewed, a process by which other scholars fact check the work to ensure accuracy. Popular or non-scholarly information, on the other hand, does is not peer-reviewed, nor is it written by an expert/scholar of the topic being discussed. 

Characteristics of non-scholarly/popular information: 

  • Contains images, often attention-grabbing images 
  • Littered with ads or advertisements 
  • Author is not an expert in the field being discussed 

Example Link: Popular 

Example Link: Scholarly 

How to Read a Scholarly Journal

Internet Sources

Is it EVER Ok to use Web Sources?   beginning with the HTTP scheme and the WWW domain name label.

Yes! You won't be abandoning Web sources completely, but you will need to know WHEN it is appropriate to use Web Sources. This will depend on a variety of factors, but mainly on the assignment perimeters and the type of information you are trying to find. It's important to know WHAT you are looking at when you search the web, because you are going to find a ton of information. Understanding the Information Cycle will help, and also knowing how to critically evaluate these sources will be vital. The CRAAP Test will become your best friend as you try to navigate the multitude of information on the internet! 

*Remember, if you ever have any doubts about a source, ASK your Professor BEFORE using it! 

Test your infomration literacy skills!

Select the link that corresponds to your course session:

Information Cycle

flow chart of information forms and cycle

Evaluating Sources: If I Apply Method

EXAMPLE SOURCE:https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20170907-what-the-myth-of-faust-can-teach-us 

NOTE: Only focus on the "source steps"

A: Whiel the author is an established journalist, he is not a literary scholar. Nonetheless, his interpretation of the play is valid and has clearly read the play. 

P: The purpose of the source appears to be for the author to share his perspective of the play Doctor Faustus. Nonetheless, there is a political agenda attached to the article. 

P: Based on the fact the social media icons appear before the author's name, the publisher's purpose for the article is for it to be shared on social media. 

L: There is no list of sources, which means the author is relying on his own opinions. 

Y: Year of publican, while dated to 2017, does not appear to impact the content of the source, though it should be noted that 2017 was a year of political polarization for many Western countries, so there could be some influences from the time the article was written. 

**Based on the BBC's editorial guidelines and the author's credentials, this source is not scholarly.