How do I know if a source is reputable?

How do I know if a source is reputable?

When using online resources and information, evaluating the source material is critical to the success of your essay.  Consider this checklist to be sure the source is reliable and valid. To analyze sources other than online material, consider these questions found on this infographic. If there are further questions about a source's reliability, please reach out to your instructor for additional assistance. 

  • Reputable Sources 

    • Reputable/Reliable/Credible sources are articles, journal entries, websites, or other publications within the given field that were created, researched, and documented by a dependable source. 

    • Consider these questions

  • Credible Sources vs. Non-Credible Sources 

  • Unusable Sources 

    • Some sources should never be used as evidence in a research paper.  These can include but are not limited to magazine articles, blog posts, Tweets/social media entries, or Wikipedia articles.  Generally speaking, if anyone can write and publish the article without fact-checking the information being presented, the article is probably unreliable and therefore should not be used as a resource in a research essay.   


    • Related Articles

    • How do I revise my writing?

      Your essay is written, but what’s next? Before turning in your essay be sure to revise your writing. Revision literally means to “look at again”, which is exactly what will happen during this stage of the writing process. When you’re revising your ...

    • How do I cite my sources?

      TEL courses implement three different citing formats: MLA, APA, and Chicago. Be sure to check your mastery assignment instructions in the “Documents” sections of your Course Home Page to identify which citing format your course will use. For a more ...

    • When do I need a scholarly source, and where can I find them?

      Scholarly sources are required for most TEL Education mastery assignments. Consider that there might be certain parts of your arguments that aren’t true or need better backing. Or, perhaps there are other arguments that you haven’t thought of yet. ...

    • How do I start writing an essay for Music Appreciation?

      Music Appreciation Mastery Assignment 2 Essay Like most college essays, this essay requires you to plan, ponder and think critically about a specific topic. In this case, the prompt asks you to choose one example of functional music that relates to ...

    • How do I write a basic essay for my college-level classes?

      Even though the thesis statement may contain your opinion, the evidence supporting your opinions will be factual and unbiased. Using a specific set of criteria to judge the topic, the essay must contain strong pieces of evidence from reputable or ...