Lesson 5:
Evaluating Resources

Objectives

Evaluate Books

Evaluate Articles

Evaluate Web Sites

Select Useful Information

Resources

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EWU Libraries

Evaluate Books

Evaluating Books

Using books you find in the EWU Libraries makes evaluation easier. By the time a book reaches the library shelves, it has been reviewed twice. First, an editor verifies that the information is accurate. Later, a librarian determines whether the book is appropriate for the EWU Libraries collection.

Still, there are a number of questions you should ask yourself before using a book as a research resource. These questions focus on 5 areas you can evaluate to judge a book's research value: author/authority, purpose, organization and content, publisher, and date of publication.

Note: The points in this section are not necessarily intended to be applied to works of fiction. Uncertain? Ask your instructor for clarification.