Codices Task: Quick Guide: purpose: What is the sources purpose?

1.

2. sponsor/ownership (claimed/signed): Who wrote or edited it? Is the source clearly claimed in some fashion? (a name, corporate logo, or some affiliation indication) Personal sources should be signed; beware of lacking identification of origin. 3. agenda: What are the sponsors goals/objectives? Is bias clearly present?

4. edited/written level: Is the material well-written, even proof-read and edited? Sloppy, poorly written sources often are warning signs of deeper concerns. 5. audience viewpoint: Is the source matter aimed at or written with an extremist tone? Is the language derogatory, inflammatory, or even hostile? What shows these traits? 6. proof (behind sources): Is the information provided well-documented? Are sources or links to sources given? Beware of authoritative sounding information that lacks sources. 7. contact information: Can you contact the owner or developer (individual or institution) of the source? yes 8. time range: When was the info last updated? Is the information current? (books 10 years, magazine/newspapers 5 years, databases 3 years, web 1 - 2 years this applies ONLY to up-date notification!) 9. credibility verses reliability (credentials vs. reputation/other): What are the author's or institution's credentials? If no credentials, what is the sources reputation? Why should this sources information be considered truthful? 10. common sense: This single criteria displaces all others if a source lacks simple, plain logic, leave it and go elsewhere. Sources which seem crazy often are, so when in doubt, disallow the source. A source which fails this, automatically fails! * Pick three (3) sources selected by your partner: use the above guideline to evaluate each for quality content. Add up one point for each of the above characteristics, then total them up. Don't forget, a source automatically fails this evaluation if it cannot pass on common sense. Otherwise, a passing score for quality content would be a minimum six (6) points out of ten (10). For comments, note if a failure score happens, why. If it is a great source, tell the person with some praise.

Source One http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/20/opinion/exotic-animals-as-pets-an-unregulatedrisk.html?_r=0 Name: Black Bear Attacks Owner Total Score:8 Comment: interesting article about exotic animals as pets, contains stories and information about exotic animals and how they came to be pets.

Source Two

http://www.oddee.com/item_97023.aspx

Name: Should wild animals be kept as pets? Total Score: 9 Comment: very descriptive, definitely enough information to write a paper.

Source Three http://www.bornfreeusa.org/database/exo_incidents.php Name: Exotic Animal Incidents Total Score:10 Comment: good details, use better sources if you can.