Evaluating sources: Potential Sources Tool

When considering the publisher, ask yourself these questions:

• What is the publisher’s relationship to or perspective on the topic? 
• What economic and political stakes might the publisher have in the topic?

*See BIAS and PURPOSE tabs for more information

Potential Sources Tool Credit: https://www.odelleducation.com/curriculum/

When considering the author, ask yourself these questions:

• What are the author’s qualifications relative to the topic? 
• What is the author’s personal relationship to the topic including any economic and political stakes?

*See AUTHORITY tab for more information

Potential Sources Tool Credit: https://www.odelleducation.com/curriculum/

When considering the type, ask yourself this question:

• What is the purpose of the text with respect to the topic?

Type = Purpose

• To inform
• To persuade
• To entertain
• To sell me something

*See PURPOSE tab for more information

Potential Sources Tool Credit: https://www.odelleducation.com/curriculum/

When considering accessibility and interest, ask yourself these questions:

• Am I able to read and comprehend the text?
• What background knowledge do I need to understand the terminology, information, and ideas in the text?
• Does the text present ideas or information that I find interesting?

*Remember to look for the "Read Aloud" feature on many available databases for more accessibility

Potential Sources Tool Credit: https://www.odelleducation.com/curriculum/

When considering relevance & richness, ask yourself these questions:

• How does the text help me respond to my inquiry questions or achieve my research goals?
• How extensive and supported is the information it provides?
• How does the information relate to other texts?

Potential Sources Tool Credit: https://www.odelleducation.com/curriculum/

When considering credibility & accuracy, ask yourself these questions:

• Does the text provide accurate, current, and supported information?
• Can I corroborate the information with other sources?
• Does the author demonstrate bias and does it affect the integrity of the information?

*See AUTHORITY, ACCURACY, and BIAS tabs for more information

TIP: Check for previous work: Look around to see whether someone else has already fact-checked the claim or provided a synthesis of research. [Some places to look: Wikipedia, Snopes, Politifact, and NPR’s Fact Check website.]

Potential Sources Tool Credit: https://www.odelleducation.com/curriculum/