Exceptions to the Rules
Currency
With some subjects, currency does not matter as much as the other criteria. Scientific and medical information go out of date quickly. Humanities information does not out of date as quickly. A thirty-year old article on the American Civil War is probably still good.Accuracy
If I'm writing about a controversial topic, I may want to seek out both sides of an argument to make sure that my own coverage is balanced or to illustrate the different arguments authors are making.If I use a biased or inaccurate source, I make sure that I keep it clear in my paper or project, and I'm sure to present both sides fairly.