evaluation reasourc

Outline
Introduction
Thesis: The aim of this paper is to discuss the CARS checklist and use it to evaluate two sources regarding the marketing strategy for McDonald’s.
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Locate the sources
In this section, the paper will address how books will be located from a search engine.
Source 1
This section will analyze the first source according to the CARS checklist and state whether the source is credible, accurate, reasonable or supportive.
Source 2
This section will evaluate the second source using the CARS checklist also to see whether it is reliable or not.
Conclusion
The conclusion section will focus on summarizing the main issues discussed.
Introduction
Internet sources need to be evaluated when someone is using them. The evaluation should be carried out either when getting personal information or when using these sources for research purposes. The CARS Checklist assists people to find sources that credible, accurate, reasonable and those that are supportive. This paper will provide information on how to evaluate two sources. These two sources will be about this topic: Marketing strategy for McDonald’s. This essay will show how to locate sources and how to evaluate them.
Locating sources
The sources can be located on websites such as those from the university library. The books can also be found on the internet by searching them on Google or other search engines. Library databases are likely to have sources that are more reliable and accurate compared to internet sources.

In my search, I typed the topic ‘Marketing strategy for McDonald’s’. I used Google Scholar as the search engine so as to get academic journal sources dated 2006-2016. I managed to locate five sources that I could use, but I selected two of the sources to use them in this research. The CARS Checklist will be used to evaluate the two sources.
Source 1
The first source Gerhardt, S., Hazen, S., & Lewis, S. (2014). Small Business Marketing Strategy Based on McDonald’s. ASBBS Proceedings, 21(1), 271 was a journal article. The first step involves proving for the credibility of this source. Credibility is about trust and therefore requires one to do a thorough research to understand why the source can be trusted compared to other sources. According to Harris (2015), for a source to be credible, it must have an author who is knowledgeable, truthful and reliable. There are clues that can be applied in assessing the author. One can check the author’s level of education and whether they have given their contact information. It is also vital to check if the author is a reputable organization, their reputation and also job position. This information can help to show whether the author stands in a good position to provide the information. It is important that quality control is tested. It needs to be peer reviewed, and if reviews are bad, the credibility must be questioned. Metainformation must be evaluated and include such things as reviews, recommendations, ratings and others. Information must be free from emotions, and therefore they should have data and reasons that can persuade people. The source must be free from grammar errors mistakes. This book is free from grammar or spelling errors. The authors are professionals based on their educational background. Samuel Hazen is a professor in the department of management (marketing and administration) in Louisiana Tech University. The book has given contact information for these authors and therefore one can contact them to know more about this topic. The information is recent and also this book is peer reviewed, and people have given very positive comments about this book. This book is, therefore, credible, and it can be trusted.
In regards to accuracy, the book is accurate since it is dated. It gives clear points, and there are no generalizations. The book acknowledges the opposing views of other people. The source does not leave out critical points, alternatives, qualifications or facts. in regards to reasonableness, ideas and claims are presented in an accurate manner, and they are free from fallacies or other unreasoned arguments. It is also free from biases. Further, the information given in this book does not contradict itself.
In regards to support, the book has source documentation where they are required and also the same information exist elsewhere. The book has outlined the sources where facts presented came from.
Source 2
The second source is a journal article Thomson, D. M., & Shouse, E. (2010). Clowning Around with Ronald: Notes on Detourning the McDonald’s Marketing Spectacle. Text and Performance Quarterly, 30(3), 269-289. The journal is having two authors Thomson, D. M., and Shouse, E. These authors have been knowledgeable in that they have presented facts in an organized and accurate manner. The authors have a good educational background. Deborah M. Thomson who is an Assistant Professor at East Carolina University in the School of Communication. Eric Shouse is the Assistant Professor at East Carolina University in the School of Communication. According to the authors is that the information can be clarified through the email or phone address given in the journal. The authors have gotten this information from McDonald’s annual reports. The journal article has gone through the peer review process. This process had allowed various readers to approve its content before it was published. Most of the people who reviewed this journal state that it is accurate and therefore it can be relied upon by readers as well as researchers. The comments, recommendations as well as ratings are all positive about this journal. The book is free from grammar or other spelling issues. There is no exaggeration or absolutes found according to peer reviews.
In regards to accuracy, the Journal has a date of when it was published. The information given in this journal is still valid since most of the marketing strategies that McDonald’s uses today is mentioned in this journal. The information presented is comprehensive in that it answers most of the questions of the readers. It has important facts and therefore it does not leave out the most critical points of the topic it is talking about. This journal also acknowledges views and also responds to them adequately.
In regards to reasonableness, the journal is a good information source since it possesses a calm and reasonable tone. It also presents materials in a thoughtful manner, and it does not influence the emotions of the reader. The information presented also agrees with my experience knowledge that I have seen in regards to the marketing strategies used by McDonald’s. McDonald’s marketing strategy has changed, and it is now focusing on producing healthy foods especially for children. This statement is accurate based on my current knowledge and experience on what McDonald is doing in regards to meeting the needs of customers. The Journal has listed the sources it used in documenting the information. The information given can also be confirmed from other sources. External sources tend to agree with this source.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is important to evaluate sources that one intends to use. The CARS Checklist can be applied so as to prove the credibility, accuracy, reasonableness and support of the sources. In regards to the above two sources, the evaluation has proved that they are credible, accurate, reasonable and are supported by other books.
References
Gerhardt, S., Hazen, S., & Lewis, S. (2014). Small Business Marketing Strategy Based on McDonald’s. ASBBS Proceedings, 21(1), 271.
Harris, R. (2015, January 21). VirtualSalt. Retrieved November 24, 2016, from Evaluating Internet Research Sources: http://www.virtualsalt.com/evalu8it.htm
Thomson, D. M., & Shouse, E. . (2010). Clowning Around with Ronald: Notes on Detourning the McDonald’s Marketing Spectacle . Text and Performance Quarterly, 30(3), 269-289.