Evaluating Sources

What Makes a Credible Source?

You may have heard in your courses that you need to use credible sources for your assignments, but how do you know if a source is credible for not?

There are many factors for what makes a source credible. The most important factors to keep in mind is to find sources that are factual and appropriate for a college-level paper.

A factual source is one that includes information that is based on research and other evidence.

An appropriate source is one that would be acceptable to use for a college-level paper. 

Always Keep Your Thesis Statement in Mind

You spend the entirety of your research paper proving your thesis statement. All of your sources should help strengthen your argument and prove your thesis. Don't just choose sources for the sake of choosing sources.

For more information about creating a thesis statement, check out the Library's Choosing a Research Topic guide.