When writing a scientific paper, you want to find the most credible sources. Some websites present things as evidence that have not been proven scientifically. You must be able to identify reliable sites so the data in your paper is credible.

Only use sources that end in .edu (school and college websites) and .gov (government websites). Only use .org or .com sites if they are reliable. Sometimes students, not scientists, write content for .edu websites. Because the content might not be checked by scientists, read any .edu website carefully to determine whether it is reliable. When you review a source, ask yourself these questions:

Who authored the document?
Is this person a scientific expert in weather and climate?
What is the purpose of the document?
Does the article state opinions or does it rely on facts that can be proven by evidence?
When was the document written?
Do other credible sources support the statements in this document?
Write down two to three credible sources you will use to find information for your research paper. They can be books, magazines, websites, or other sources. For each source you find, write down one to two sentences explaining how the source will help you. Show how you will cite each source in a works cited page at the end of your paper using MLA (Modern Language Association) citation methods.