*Based on Academic Writing Skills 3 (Cambridge), Unit 3: Using and Citing Sources

1. Evaluating Information Sources
for Academic Essays

2. Information Sources
Primary Secondary Tertiary
•Scholarly journals
•Government organizations
(e.g., Philippine Department of
Tourism, United States
Department of Education)
•Reputable organizations
(e.g, The WHO,
The World Bank)
•University-published
information
•Experts’ speeches, interviews,
editorials, or books
•Newspapers
•Magazines
•Website postings
•Encyclopedias
•Guidebooks
•Textbooks

3. Information
Sources
Primary Secondary Tertiary
Examples
•Scholarly journals
•Government organizations
•Reputable organizations
•Universities
•Experts
•Newspapers*
•Magazines*
•Website postings
•Encyclopedias
•Guidebooks
•Textbooks
Defining
Characteristic/s
Where information
(e.g., statistics, research
results) originally come from
Reports or interprets
information from
primary sources
•Collects information
from both primary
and secondary
sources
•Offers a condensed
description of a topic
Usefulness for
Academic
Essays
Best source , especially when
facts, statistics, and research
results are required
Can be useful,
especially when
another person’s
interpretation is
required
•Only for providing
background
information on topics
•Provides a reference
list of primary and
secondary sources

4. *Newspaper and Magazine Articles
• Usually secondary sources of information
• Can also be primary sources in some cases
Examples:
→Interview with a witness to an event
→ Commentary from an expert on a particular topic

5. Determining the Credibility of
Information Sources
1. Author (person or organization)
2. Publisher
3. Purpose
4. Accuracy
5. Context

6. Determining the Credibility of
Information Sources
1. Author (person or organization)

7. Determining the Credibility of
Information Sources
2. Publisher

8. Determining the Credibility of
Information Sources
3. Purpose

9. Determining the Credibility of
Information Sources
4. Accuracy

10. Determining the Credibility of
Information Sources
5. Context