To determine if your sources are reliable and usable, try giving it one of the tests below. ACT UP, an evaluative test created by Dawn Stahura is a more inclusive version of the CRAAP test (see further down the page) created by Sarah Blakeslee and the librarians at the University of California-Chico. Both tests can be utilized to evaluate scholarly publications and other websites or blogs.
Author: Who wrote the information? Can you find a bio on them or see what institutions they're affiliated with?
Currency: When was the material published? Do you need something more current? Have there been follow-up articles or responses?
Truth: Can you verify that the information is accurate or true? Are there other studies or articles that back up the information?
Unbiased: Is the information presented objectively or with emotion to sway the audience? Is the author upfront about any potential bias?
Privilege: Is there anyone missing from the conversation? Can you find and support BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, & People of Color) voices?
This material is based on original writing by Dawn Stahura at https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/article/view/17434/1924
If you would like to learn more about promoting scholarship by Black/African American and other underrepresented groups in academia, Cite Black Women is a great resource to check out. They host a podcast on SoundClound (embedded below) and you can follow them on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @citeblackwomen
Currency: When was it published? Does your research require something more recent?
Relevance: Does the material inform your argument? Do aspects of the information relate to your topic?
Authority: Is the author qualified to write and publish on the topic? Can you contact the author or publisher?
Accuracy: Is the information supported with relevant evidence? Can you or other scholars fact check the information?
Purpose: Is the material supposed to inform or persuade? Does the author account for any biases?
This material is based on original writing by Sarah Blakeslee and librarians at the University of California-Chico's Meriam Libary at http://libguides.csuchico.edu/LiteratureReviews?p=2822716#s-lg-box-8647771
Have a look at the Library Citation Guide with tips on avoiding plagiarism, different citation styles used in academic institutions, and integrating sources into your academic papers.
By using a reference management software, like Mendeley or Zotero, you can add to, organize, and easily access articles in your online library. You can even add an extension to your browser to make adding articles to your library more streamlined.
Both providers allow you to download a desktop application to upload and store your articles if you will not have access to the internet. Both are great and easy to use programs, so it's up to you to decide which better suits your needs. Check out the videos below to get a quick tour of Mendeley and a tutorial of Zotero to get a feel for each!
In the video below, Digital Specialist, Melinda Williams, will give you a brief tutorial on how to get started with Zotero. She'll walk you through a few different ways of adding documents to your Zotero library!