Evaluating Sources: Home

Currency: The timeliness of the information 

• When was your source published or posted?

• Does your topic require current information?

• Has the information been revised or updated?

Relevance: The importance of the information for your needs

• Does this source relate to my topic or provide support for my body paragraphs?

• Who is the audience?

• Is the information presented in a particular context?

• Does the source provide enough, detailed information?

Authority: The source of the information

• Does the author have credentials and contextual knowledge to speak about the topic?

• Is information given about the author or organization?

• Does the URL reveal anything about the source (.org/.edu/.com/.gov)?

• If no author is given, who is the publisher and what information is provided?

• Look for a website's About or About Us page to help answer Authority and Purpose questions

Accuracy: The reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the content

•  Are secondary sources cited? Are they credible, high-quality sources? 

• Is the language objective and unbiased?

• Has the information been reviewed or refereed?

• Can you verify any of the information in another source or from personal knowledge?

• Are there spelling, grammar or typographical errors?

Purpose: The reason the information exists

• What is the purpose of the information? Is it to inform, teach, sell, entertain or persuade? 

• Is the information presented as opinion, marketing, propaganda, or fact?

• Do the authors/publishers make their intentions or purpose clear?

• Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?

• Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional or personal biases?

• Look for a website's About or About Us page to help answer Authority and Purpose questions.