Question

You are writing a literary analysis essay on Shakespeare's Macbeth. Which of the following is a reliable source of information on the topic?

1) a student's college paper on the use of symbolism in the play
2) a blog about the themes in Shakespeare's plays
3) a website on Shakespeare maintained by the student body of an arts school
4) a literary critic's analysis of the characters and their contrasts in the play

Thank you!

Answer 1

The answer is number 4) a literary critic's analysis, because it is not written by a student and it is a reliable source compared to a blog, website, or student paper.

Answer 2

At the moment of writing a literary analysis essay on Shakespeare's Macbeth. The following is a reliable source of information on the topic:

4) a literary critic's analysis of the characters and their contrasts in the play

Step-by-step explanation:

Reliability is gained over validity and confirmability. These two aspects are earned after an educational institution provides a credential to a certain individual to prove he or she earned a scientific education to perform problem-solving in its area. However, those institutions also follow other institutions' guidelines that establish the way knowledge is obtained. Therefore, only a critic's analysis would be a reliable source. Because it would be the only one to hold a credential provided by a recognized institution.