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)