Criteria

Questions to Ask

Authority

• Who (person, organization, company) created the source?

• What are their credentials/affiliation or experience that qualify them on this topic?

•  What editorial process was used to disseminate this resource? Peer review? Journalism?

• If a website, does the URL provide insight? Examples .gov, .edu, .com, .org, .net

Currency

• Does your topic require current information? If so, when was the source written and published?

• Has the information been revised or updated recently?

Truth

• How accurate is the information? Can you verify the claims in other resources?

• Has the information been reviewed? Is there a bibliography?

• What type of evidence is used to support claims or arguments?

Unbiased

• Is the information presented to impact your emotions or your reason?

• Is the purpose to sell? To teach? To persuade? To entertain?

• Does the point of view appear objective or unbiased?

Privilege

• Check the privilege of the author(s). Who is missing from the conversation?

• Critically evaluate the subject terms associated with each resource you find. How are they described? What are the inherent biases?

• What is the purpose of the publication? To sell, teach, persuade or entertain?