Writing 101 presented by Lee Sorensen: Evaluating Sources

Currency

• When was the information published or posted?
• Has the information been revised or updated?
• Does your topic require current information, or will older sources work as well?
• If this is an online source, are the links functional?

 Relevance

• Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
• Who is this written for?
• Is the information at an appropriate level?

Authority

• Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
• What are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations?
• Is the author qualified to write on this topic?
• Is there contact information, such as a publisher or email address?

Accuracy

• Where does the information come from?
• Is the information supported by evidence?
• Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
• Can you verify any of the information in another source or from personal knowledge?
• Does the language or tone seem unbiased and free of emotion?
• Are there spelling, grammar, or typographical errors?

Purpose

• Is this source created to inform, teach, sell, entertain, or persuade?
• Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?
• Is the information fact, opinion, or propoganda?
• Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases?

A peer-reviewed source is a work that has been evaluated by subject matter experts before publication. This evaluation process is designed to ensure that publications are original, accurate, up-to-date, and relevant to the field of study, all the characteristics researchers are looking for in their sources.

Questions

• What is the editorial bias? 
• Does the newspaper support a particular political party? 
• How long has the newspaper been published? 
• What other newspapers existed in the same city at that time?
• Did it change titles and ownership over time?