When evaluating sources, ask yourself these critical questions:

Author: 

• Who wrote this source? 
• Do they have any relevant expertise, credentials, or experience?  
• Do they have connections to groups/interests that might indicate bias? Look for potential conflicts of interest and remember that expertise ≠ bias. 

Point of view:

• What is the author’s viewpoint on this topic? 
• How does it relate to your point of view?

Audience:

• What audience(s) is this article intended for?

Evidence:

• What evidence does the author use to support their viewpoint (e.g. research data, interviews with experts, opinions, anecodotes)? 
• Is it convincing? 

What’s missing?

• What is missing from this source (e.g. perspectives, data, background information)? 
• What kinds of additional information would be helpful to have in order to learn more about this topic?

Context:

• How will you use this source in your research? (e.g., find links to more sources, get background information, make a counterargument, use to support your arguments)