Affirmative Action and U.S. Society: Citing/Evaluating Sources

Not all resources, books, articles, websites, videos, etc., are appropriate for all papers.  When searching for sources and/or choosing sources for your paper here are some things to keep in mind:

• Authority: What are the author's qualification? Are they writing in their field of expertise? Who is the publisher or sponsor?

• Objectivity: Are there signs of bias and/or subjectivity? What is the purpose, to inform or pursuade? Are alternative or opposing views or arguments represented?

• Accuracy: Are the arguments or assertions believable?  Are they backed up with credible evidence and citations?

• In General: Does the infomation provided answer my question or back up my thesis?  Does it raise other relevant questions?

Citing the sources you have used is a vital and required step in the research process.  In addition to creating citations and bibliographies in your paper, it is important to understand the elements of citations so that you collect the information that you need as you do your research. 

Other information about citing sources and about the research process can be found on the Library's website and on the Office of the Dean of Students Affairs site: How to Cite

As you do your research you will likely find a wide variety of popular and scholarly resources.  The major difference between popular and scholarly sources is the audience; popular sources are often written for and marketed to the general public, while scholarly sources are written for and marketed to academic researchers and scholars.  Generally you will be required to include scholarly sources in your academic papers, but for some research topics it may be appropriate and necessary to include some popular materials.   Whatever the topic, it is important to be able differentiate between popular and scholarly sources. 

Scholarly sources often include: 

• A descriptive title that is not misleading

• An abstract of article at beginning

• Ideas that are footnoted, where appropriate

• The qualifications of author listed

• A list of reviewers or editorial board of experts ("peer-reviewed" or "juried")

• Bibliography or list of works cited

• The name of the publisher or sponsor

Information on plagairism and about Bowdoin's policies concerning academic honesty and plagiarism can be found on the Office of the Dean of Students Affairs site: Academic Honesty and Plagiarism