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The definition of a credible source can change depending on the discipline, but in general, for academic writing, a credible source is one that is unbiased and is backed up with evidence. When writing a research paper, always use and cite credible sources. Use this checklist to determine if an article is credible or not:

Is the source in-depth (more than a page or two), with an abstract, a reference list, and documented research or data?

Who is the audience (researchers, professors, students, general population, professionals in a specific field)?

What is the purpose of the source (provide information or report original research or experiments, to entertain or persuade the general public, or provide news or information specific to a trade or industry)?

Who are the authors? Are they respected and well-known in the field? Are they easily identifiable? Have they written about other similar topics? What are their credentials?

Is the source reputable? Is it published on a reputable, non-biased web site, or in a peer-reviewed, scholarly journal, and not from a newspaper, blog, or wiki?

Is the source current for your topic?

Is there supporting documentation (graphs, charts, illustrations or other supporting documentation)?

OERs (Open Educational Resources)

Open educational resources (OERs) are materials that are licensed for free use, with the purpose of teaching or learning. Use this checklist to find credible and useful OER's:

Does the resource have a CC (Creative Commons) license where the resource can be reused or shared?

Who is the author and what are his or her credentials? Have they written other content on this topic? Are they a professor or expert in the subject they are writing about?

Is the content non-biased?

Web Domains in Scholarly Research

Where does your source come from?

government or military (.gov or .mil) - Government or military websites end in .gov or .mil, and in general are reliable sources on the web. However, beware of political sites used to sway public opinion.

university (.edu) - University web sites end in .edu, and are usually reliable. Use these sites with caution, checking for credibility and authority.

company website (.com) - Company web sites generally end in .com. These sites are great for information about a particular company. However be aware that company websites are used to promote, so be sure the information is non-biased.

special interest (.org) - While many professional organizations end in .org, there are also many .orgs that are biased and promote a specific agenda.

Video Tutorial
Evaluating Web Sites (5:16)

Truth in the News

The Center for News Literacy makes the case for being smart consumers of online news. "The most profound communications revolution since the invention of Gutenberg's printing press seems to make it harder, not easier, to determine the truth. The digital revolution is characterized by a flood of information and misinformation that news consumers can access from anywhere at any time... This superabundance of information has made it imperative that citizens learn to judge the reliability of news reports and other sources of information that is passed along their social networks."

Strategies
Check the facts
There are many fact-checking websites available online. Before using one of these websites, remember, a good fact checking service will use neutral wording and will provide unbiased, authoritative sources to support their claims. Look for the criteria below when searching for the facts.
Evaluate sources

Does the website have an "About Us" section? Does it disclose a source of funding?
Knowing this information enables you to judge the website's purpose and viewpoint.

Citations and evidence

Is information cited so that you can track down the source and verify it?

What evidence is used to prove the author's point? Is the evidence reliable, and is it used logically?

For more tips, see the sections above.

Beware of:

Websites that contain the suffix "lo" (e.g., Newslo) or that end in ".com.co".
These often present false information for satirical or other purposes.

Websites that urge you to dox an individual or organization

Websites that have amateurish design, use ALL CAPS, and try to play on your emotions
Those are often signs that information is not trustworthy and that you should research it further via other sources

Memes making the rounds on Facebook or other social media sites
Try googling the topic of a meme or other doubtful story: if it is a legitimate news story, you'll probably find it covered by an established source like a major newspaper or TV news channel

Clickbait
Sensationalist headlines and odd photos whose purpose is not to publish legitimate news but to increase traffic at a website

Burst your filter bubble
Web browsers and social media sites employ algorithms that feed you information you've shown a preference for. This so called "filter bubble" connects us to news that tends to reinforce our set views, rather than challenging us with new ideas. When conducting research for class or simply making up your mind on an issue, try these strategies:

Seek credible information from both sides of an issue: conservative and liberal; religious and atheist; industrialized and developing nations; etc.

Use databases that aren't influenced by your previous web searches, for example:

Experiment with tech solutions, such as How to Burst Your Filter Bubble offered by the University Library at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Talk to people who hold views different from yours. That solution is offered by Eli Pariser, who wrote a book and did a Ted talk on filter bubbles.

(Thanks to the following excellent guides on which we've drawn for part of the above content: Bristol Community College and Stark State Digital Library.)

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The definition of a credible source can change depending on the discipline, but in general, for academic writing, a credible source is one that is unbiased and is backed up with evidence. When writing a research paper, always use and cite credible sources.

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Not all written sources are reliable, no matter how sound their arguments may appear to be. To evaluate the reliability of a piece of writing, you must consider several issues related to the subject and to the person or publisher that presents it. Is the information current? Is it related directly to the topic it discusses? Does it provide sources for supporting ideas? Are these sources reliable? Is the purpose of the information to inform, to persuade, to sell, or even to entertain? Has the information been written and published recently? Does a date of publication appear? Finally, who is responsible for the information? Is an author or publisher listed at all?

Some topics (such as medical research and new technical information) must be up-to-date to be valuable to readers. However, bias and opinion compromise even recent information, keeping it from being objective and trustworthy. Certainly, any organization or individual is entitled to a perspective. However, that doesn't necessarily make the perspective one which readers can rely on. One person's opinion is not necessarily informed. Likewise, some organizations, particularly companies who want sales or politicians who want votes, want readers to agree with their views. Few advertisements present credible supporting information for the positions they present! In general, objective information with a listed author and/or presented by a reliable publisher is far more credible than anonymous information published by a commercial or an anonymous source. It's up to you - as critical reader - to determine the bias and the source of what you read.

For example, consider material posted on the Web (with a .com suffix) to describe the latest model of a new automobile. How much factual information about the automobile will appear? Will be the purpose of the posted information be to inform readers about the specific features of the new model or to urge them to buy? In what ways do language and graphics bias readers about the new car?

If you read an article from The Onion, the humorous satire of current events, can you trust the supposedly actual information the article presents? Are you supposed to? The Onion wants readers to laugh, not to learn.

Many Web pages are published anonymously by individuals. Are the views of individuals as reliable as those of experts from universities or from the government which cite sources?

If you consult the Center for Disease Control listing for AIDS (dated and posted with a .gov suffix), what is the purpose of the information? How current is the information? How factual? What does the government wanted citizens to know? In general, information published by the government is both current and based on reliable research, even if no one author is listed.

In general, print publications with authors and listed sources tend to be reliable because they provide sources which readers can verify. Likewise, Web postings with a .gov suffix (posted by the United States government) are both current and reliable. Web postings with the .edu suffix, when they represent a college or university, are likewise reliable. Database postings which publish entries from encyclopedias or articles are also trustworthy, even if no author is listed. Encyclopedias edit and update entries, citing sources and using reliable authors.

As a reader, you must be careful about what you consult as a reliable source of information. That a source is in print or posted on the Web does not automatically make it trustworthy. You can always find information on any source. As a critical reader, you deserve the best, the most current, and the most reliable. Be sure to screen what you find to make sure that it is reliable.

Quiz

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Not all written sources are reliable, no matter how sound their arguments may appear to be. To evaluate the reliability of a piece of writing, you must consider several issues related to the subject and to the person or publisher that presents it. Is the information current?

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Not all sources are created equal, so make sure that you’re referring to reputable, reliable information. Examples of sources could include books, magazine articles, scholarly articles, reputable websites, databases and journals. Keywords relating to your topic can help you in your search.

As you search, you should begin to compile a list of references. This will make it much easier later when you are ready to build your paper’s bibliography. Keeping clear notes detailing any sources that you use will help you to avoid accidentally plagiarizing someone else’s work or ideas.

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Research papers are a requirement for most college courses, so knowing how to write a research paper is important. These in-depth pieces of academic writing can seem pretty daunting, but there's no need to panic. When broken down into its key components, writing your paper should be a manageable and, dare we say it, enjoyable task.

We're going to look at the required elements of a paper in detail, and you might also find this webpage to be a useful reference.

What is a Research Paper?

A research paper is more than just an extra long essay or encyclopedic regurgitation of facts and figures. The aim of this task is to combine in-depth study of a particular topic with critical thinking and evaluation by the student-that's you!

There are two main types of research paper: argumentative and analytical.

Argumentative - takes a stance on a particular topic right from the start, with the aim of persuading the reader of the validity of the argument. These are best suited to topics that are debatable or controversial.

Analytical - takes no firm stance on a topic initially. Instead it asks a question and should come to an answer through the evaluation of source material. As its name suggests, the aim is to analyze the source material and offer a fresh perspective on the results.

If you wish to further your understanding, you can learn more here.

How to Write a Research Paper

A required word count (think thousands!) can make writing that paper seem like an insurmountable task. Don't worry! Our step-by-step guide will help you write that killer paper with confidence.

How to Start a Research Paper

Don't rush ahead. Taking care during the planning and preparation stage will save time and hassle later.

Get Clear Instructions

Your lecturer or professor is your biggest ally-after all, they want you to do well. Make sure you get clear guidance from them on both the required format and preferred topics. In some cases, your tutor will assign a topic, or give you a set list to choose from. Often, however, you'll be expected to select a suitable topic for yourself.

Having a research paper example to look at can also be useful for first-timers, so ask your tutor to supply you with one.

Brainstorm Ideas

Brainstorming research paper ideas is the first step to selecting a topic-and there are various methods you can use to brainstorm, including clustering (also known as mind mapping). Think about the research paper topics that interest you, and identify topics you have a strong opinion on.

Choose a Topic

Once you have a list of potential research paper topics, narrow them down by considering your academic strengths and 'gaps in the market,' e.g., don't choose a common topic that's been written about many times before. While you want your topic to be fresh and interesting, you also need to ensure there's enough material available for you to work with. Similarly, while you shouldn't go for easy research paper topics just for the sake of giving yourself less work, you do need to choose a topic that you feel confident you can do justice to.

Outline Your Outline

It might not be possible to form a full research paper outline until you've done some information gathering, but you can think about your overall aim; basically what you want to show and how you're going to show it. Now's also a good time to consider your thesis statement, although this might change as you delve into your source material deeper.

Researching the Research

Now it's time to knuckle down and dig out all the information that's relevant to your topic. Here are some tips.

Make Friends With Your Librarian

While lots of information gathering can be carried out online from anywhere, there's still a place for old-fashioned study sessions in the library. A good librarian can help you to locate sources quickly and easily, and might even make suggestions that you hadn't thought of. They're great at helping you study and research, but probably can't save you the best desk by the window.

Find Quality Sources

Not all sources are created equal, so make sure that you're referring to reputable, reliable information. Examples of sources could include books, magazine articles, scholarly articles, reputable websites, databases and journals. Keywords relating to your topic can help you in your search.

As you search, you should begin to compile a list of references. This will make it much easier later when you are ready to build your paper's bibliography. Keeping clear notes detailing any sources that you use will help you to avoid accidentally plagiarizing someone else's work or ideas.

Understand Your Topic

Simply regurgitating facts and figures won't make for an interesting paper. It's essential that you fully understand your topic so you can come across as an authority on the subject and present your own ideas on it. You should read around your topic as widely as you can, before narrowing your area of interest for your paper, and critically analyzing your findings.

A Detailed Outline

Once you've got a firm grip on your subject and the source material available to you, formulate a detailed outline, including your thesis statement and how you are going to support it. The structure of your paper will depend on the subject type-ask a tutor for a research paper outline example if you're unsure.

Get Writing!

If you've fully understood your topic and gathered quality source materials, bringing it all together should actually be the easy part!

Keep it Factual

There's no place for sloppy writing in this kind of academic task, so keep your language simple and clear, and your points critical and succinct. The creative part is finding innovative angles and new insights on the topic to make your paper interesting.

Don't forget about our verb, preposition, and adverb pages. You may find useful information to help with your writing!

Finalize Your Thesis Statement

You should now be in a position to finalize your thesis statement, showing clearly what your paper will show, answer or prove. This should usually be a one or two sentence statement; however, it's the core idea of your paper, and every insight that you include should be relevant to it. Remember, a thesis statement is not merely a summary of your findings. It should present an argument or perspective that the rest of your paper aims to support.

Think About Format

The required style of your research paper format will usually depend on your subject area. For example, APA format is normally used for social science subjects, while MLA style is most commonly used for liberal arts and humanities. Still, there are thousands of more styles. Your tutor should be able to give you clear guidance on how to format your paper, how to structure it, and what elements it should include. Make sure that you follow their instruction. If possible, ask to see a sample research paper in the required format.

Cite, Cite and Cite

As all research paper topics invariably involve referring to other people's work, it's vital that you know how to properly cite your sources to avoid unintentional plagiarism. Whether you're paraphrasing (putting someone else's ideas into your own words) or directly quoting, the original source needs to be referenced. What style of citation formatting you use will depend on the requirements of your instructor, with common styles including APA and MLA format, which consist of in-text citations (short citations within the text, enclosed with parentheses) and a reference/works cited list.

The Editing Process

It's likely that your paper will go through several drafts before you arrive at the very best version. The editing process is your chance to fix any weak points in your paper before submission. You might find that it needs a better balance of both primary and secondary sources (click through to find more info on the difference), that an adjective could use tweaking, or that you've included sources that aren't relevant or credible. You might even feel that you need to be clearer in your argument, more thorough in your critical analysis, or more balanced in your evaluation.

From a stylistic point of view, you want to ensure that your writing is clear, simple and concise, with no long, rambling sentences or paragraphs. Keeping within the required word count parameters is also important, and another thing to keep in mind is the inclusion of gender-neutral language, to avoid the reinforcement of tired stereotypes.

Don't forget about our other pages! If you are looking for help with other grammar-related topics, check out our noun, pronoun, and conjunction pages.

Final Checks

Once you're happy with the depth and balance of the arguments and points presented, you can turn your attention to the finer details, such as formatting, spelling, punctuation, grammar and ensuring that your citations are all present and correct. The EasyBib Plus plagiarism checker is a handy tool for making sure that your sources are all cited. An EasyBib Plus subscription also comes with access to citation tools that can help you create citations in your choice of format.

Also, double-check your deadline date and the submissions guidelines to avoid any last-minute issues. Take a peek at our other grammar pages while you're at it. We've included numerous links on this page, but we also have an interjection page and determiner page.

And Relax

So you've done your final checks and handed in your paper according to the submissions guidelines and preferably before deadline day. Congratulations! If your schedule permits, now would be a great time to take a break from your studies. Maybe plan a fun activity with friends or just take the opportunity to rest and relax. A well-earned break from the books will ensure that you return to class refreshed and ready for your next stage of learning-and the next research paper requirement your tutor sets!

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How to write a research paper and choose research paper topics

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Research papers are a requirement for most college courses, so knowing how to write a research paper is important. These in-depth pieces of academic writing can seem pretty daunting, but there's no need to panic. When broken down into its key components, writing your paper should be a manageable and, dare we say it, enjoyable task.