Big6, #2 Brainstorm
Library books, research databases, internet sites–all of these can be useful. Don’t forget about interviews, personal visits, and electronic communications.
Important: How do you know if you can trust a source? Peer-reviewed articles are “safe” because they have been reviewed by subject experts. If you are using an Internet site, be sure to know the answers to the following:
- Who is the author? What qualifications does the person have?
- When was the information written?
- Where is the information hosted? .com .edu .gov Note: .org is not a guarantee of quality information.
- Why is the information supplied? Is it trying to sell you something? Is it shaping your opinion?
- What type of information is supplied? Does it agree with other sources you have found?
- How did you find the site? Was it linked from a trusted site?