1. WHAT IS A “GOOD
SOURCE”?
Choosing an appropriate source for your
topic.

2. Types of Sources
• There are many different types of sources. These
are the most common sources you'll encounter
when researching your topic. Click on each one
to learn more.
• Books and Textbooks
• Academic and Trade Journals
• Government Documents
• Press Releases and Advertising
• Websites and Blogs

3. Books and Textbooks
• Cover a multitude of topics
• Can be outdated. The publication process can take up to
one year.
• Written for different audiences:
• General
• Academic

4. Book for a General Audience
• Written for a general audience
and non-experts.
• The writing is very general and
doesn’t use technical terms, or
if it does, the terms are
defined.
• Published by a mass market
publisher.
• Few, if any, references.
References are key!!!

5. Book for an Academic Audience
• Often published by a university
press or other academic
publisher. (ex. Oxford University
Press, University of Chicago
Press.)
• Published for an academic
audience, such as
professors, graduate
students, and experts.
• Assumes a familiarity with
technical terms and theories in
the field.
• Well-researched. Includes an
extensive bibliography.
Again, references are key!!!

6. Academic and Trade Journals
• Publish articles with the
most up-to-date information
in the field.
• Available in print, online in
library databases, or both.
• Written for an academic
audience (ex.
Professors, graduate
students, experts, research
ers.)
• Use specialized language.
• Include a bibliography of
citations.

7. Government Documents
Q. What is government information?
A. Information created, received, used, and maintained regardless of
physical form, and information prepared for or produced by the
government institution and deemed to be under its control in the
conduct of its activities or in pursuance of legal obligations.
Q. What is a government document?
A. A "work of the United States Government," is a work prepared by
an officer or employee of the United States Government as part of that
person's official duties. See 17 USC § 101, Definitions.
Source: http://www.cendi.gov/publications/04-8copyright.html#311

8. Government Documents continued…
Click on the links below to see examples:
• Legislation
• Committee reports
• Books published by a government agency
• Journals or articles published by a government agency
• Pamphlets and brochures
• Reference books such as the Statistical Abstract of the
United States

9. Press Releases and Advertisements
• Created to sell a product or tell consumers about a
development.
• Biased.
• Always portrays product in a positive light.
Examples:
“GlaxoSmithKline Confirms alli’s Safety Profile”
“Another Study Shows Positive Weight Loss Results with
Diet Soda”

10. Websites and Blogs
• Vary widely in content and quality.
• Anyone can publish a website about any topic.
• Blogs – online journals where writers write and post
articles. Many blogs allow readers to respond.
• May be biased.