Evaluating Sources

Read and think about your source documents to determine the most authoritative information

Consider the Source

• Who wrote it?
• What are their qualifications?
• What are their affiliations?
• When was it written?

Consider the Purpose

• What do the authors want to accomplish?
• Is their an implicit or an explicit bias?

Consider the Value

• How relevant is it to your topic?
• Does it help you develop a better understanding of your topic?
• Does it lead you toward your own conclusions?
• Does it provoke new ideas or suggest solutions?