ESL: Evaluation and Plagiarism

Consider...

• Who is the author?
• Why was it written -- for what purpose, organization, or audience?
• When was it written?
• Does it include references or a works cited list?

If you cannot determine the credibility of the information you are using, especially from a website, it's best not to use it to support your argument factually. Using biased or inaccurate information in your paper can negatively impact your grade.

Plagiarism is the copying or close imitation of information from a published source.
 Plagiarism is not allowed at Evergreen Valley College. If a student is caught plagiarizing, he or she could fail the class or even be expelled. To avoid plagiarism you must put quotation marks around information that is directly copied from a sorce and cite all thoughts, ideas, arguments, research, quotations and obscure facts taken from your sources using a recognized citation format like MLA.

• SIFT

  SIFT= Stop, Investigate, Find, Trace

  less...

  SIFT (The Four Moves) is a method of evaluating information sources that looks at the context of the information and has the advantage of being a four letter acronym rather than a five letter acronym; one less step! Relating SIFTing to your friend Bob and what he's telling you. Instead of believing Bob because he's been correct in the past, you go and check if what he's saying now is true.