Academic Information:
Resource Evaluation Worksheet
Information Needed to Cite the Item
Author(s):
Document Title: (article, web page, chapter, entry…)
Source Title: (book, journal, magazine, website…)
Publisher (host / sponsor if website):
Publisher Location / Website URL:
Publication Date:______________________ Access Date (website): ______________
What best describes this information:
___ formal report of a study ___ news / feature by interested amateur
___ fact sheet / data / statistics ___ anecdote / personal experience
___ news / feature article by journalist ___ fiction
___ opinion piece: expert? journalist? amateur? ___ blather
___ other:
Purpose: ___Inform ___Persuade ___Satirize ___Amuse ___Sell ___Rant
___Other:
Documentation: ___ sources cited formally ___ sources mentioned in text ___ none
What types of sources are given for facts and assertions (journals, magazines, interviews…)?
Author: Academic credentials:______________________ Affiliation(s):________________________
and/or other evidence of expertise:
Publisher/Host: ______________________________________________ or _____ self-published
____university press ____ professional society ____ non-profit organization
____government agency ____commercial publisher ____ other corporation/business
What is its mission?
Are there ads attached to the information? ____none ____a few _____many
Date: Is the information… ____ still relevant _____ outdated ____ can’t tell
The Document Itself:
Is there a stated or apparent bias? What?
How are the writing, grammar and spelling? ____ Excellent ____ So-so ____ Awful
Summary: Is this an acceptable information source for an academic research paper? Why or why not?
Dana Library, Clackamas Community College, http://www2.clackamas.edu/library/ResearchGuides/AcadInfoEvalWksht.pdf accessed on 5/28/10