No matter where you find your information you should critically consider who wrote it and where/when it's coming from before using it for a college assignment.

• Is this good information (could be verified elsewhere)?
• Does it provide enough detail?
• Does it answer the questions I have about the subject/tell me something new/support or challenge my perspective?
• What makes the author an authority?
• When was it published/created?

One way to quickly evaluate the information in front of you is to consider the "3 C's":

Credibility (their expertise makes your paper more authoritative)

• Who is the author? (okay to "Google" them)
• What makes them an expert on this subject?
• Is the author's intention to educate (share knowledge) or persuade?

Content

• Is it good enough for college-level research? Or is it too basic? Too "scholarly" (assume a level of understanding beyond your grasp)?
• Does it provide you with new knowledge?
• Does it support or challenge what you already know about the subject?

Currency

• Is it current enough for your research needs? Or could you likely find something more recent?
• Does it provide you with an accurate snapshot of the time? Fill in blanks of recent events? Provide a history or synthesis of relevant information?