Obviously, the point of searching the web and your library is to obtain evidence for your argument. However, the technological advancements and "information explosion" that may have made it easy for you to find evidence also call into question its reliability. While finding evidence for your argument is important, it is equally important to evaluate the credibility of your information.

Evaluating Traditional Evidence

The nature of publishing in traditional mediums like books, magazines, and journals makes the information you encounter there generally reliable. This is not to say, however, thay you are completely safe. There are questions you should ask of traditional sources.

• Is the information current?

• Is the source biased?

• Is the author expressing fact or opinion?

• What are the credentials of the author?

Use common sense. Just because information supports your ideas, that does not mean it is valuable or credible. As you criticize your evidence, you will find yourself refining and honing your ideas.

While much traditional evidence is fairly reliable, evaluating the evidence you find on the web is a different story.

Work with sample evidence.

Explore other areas of Evidence:

• Searching
• Locating Traditional Sources
• Locating New Media Sources