Evaluating Sources: The Basics
Authority
- Who wrote it?
- What are the author's credentials?
- Who sponsors the web page?
Audience
- Who is the target audience?
- What is the purpose of the page?
Advocacy, news, opinion, scholarship...
Currency
- When was the information published?
- Has a more recent publication disputed these claims?
Objectivity
- Is there a bias?
- How can you tell?
- Are facts accurately cited?
Support
- Are sources cited?
- Are citations from well-known authorities?
Other Criteria
- How deeply is the topic covered?
- What other information do you need to round out your argument?
- Is the content (article, book, etc.) easily available? Do you have enough time to use ILL?
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