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ENG 298 A: Writing Links with Communication 200: Evaluating Information: Savvy Info Consumers

Research guide supporting English 298 A

Savvy info consumers evaluate sources before citing, posting, or tweeting them...

Not all information is created equal.  Remember:  Anyone with Internet access can publish on the Web.  There is no editor, fact checker, or peer review process for the "free" content that is available on the visible web.  

 As scholars and information consumers, you must choose the best and most reliable information that meets your research needs.  This guide provides four strategies for being a Savvy Information Consumer:

 

Perform the
TRAAP test

journal example

Perform the
SMART Check

newspaper example

Perform the
SIFT test

social media example

Ask the
5 W Questions

webpage example

 

Reliability Rating

How do your sources rate on the Reliability scale?  

A scale from Least to Most Reliable with a white arrow pointing towards the green section for Most Reliable.

This scale provides a general assessment on the reliability of a source type. 

RED: Be wary, these sources run the gamut from news-sponsored material to complete fabrications, use one of the evaluation tools to check the credibility of the source.

YELLOW: Be critical, these sources generally follow professional ethical standards but will vary on the partisan continuum.

GREEN: Be thoughtful, these sources undergo a fairly stringent editorial and peer-review process but quality can vary.

Questions or Comments about this guide?  Contact Jessica Albano, UW Communication Studies & News Librarian, or Theresa Mudrock, UW History Librarian. 

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