Reliable? Relevant? Up-to-date?  Be selective when choosing which sources of information to use for an assignment (or for any other purpose).  Ask yourself:-

How reliable is the source? 

• Check the author and publisher. 

• Does the source contain a list of references, or mention where the information came from?

• Does the author push their own point of view / display bias? 

• If so are the author's arguments & conclusions supported by the facts?

• Beware one-sided arguments, and advertising!

Is the information relevant to the topic? 

• Check the title and abstract (if available).  The introduction and conclusion can also guide your decision.

• Do you need Australian / local information?  If so check to see where it was published, and the geographic coverage of the information.

Is the source of information up-to-date? 

• Check when the information was published.  If the information was published on the Web, check when it was last updated.

• Usually the more up-to-date the better. 

Referencing Information Sources

QuickCite [University of Auckland]

When writing an assignment it is important to consistently acknowledge the information sources that you have used.

• gives credit to the people whose work you have drawn on
• adds weight to your work, when supported by experts
• shows that you have read relevant books and articles (etc.)
• allows the reader to follow up on your sources  

Before submitting an assignment, please check with your teacher to see if they have a preferred style of referencing.

Brief Guide to Referencing (based on the Harvard Style).
Referencing FAQs