ENG 113: Technical-Professional Writing (NOVA Online OER)

Examine your sources and answer these questions.  If you can't answer them reading the source itself, look for an "about" page for websites (usually linked at the top of bottom of a page).  You can also try internet searches for the author, publication, or major claims they make - a skill called "lateral reading".

Who created it?

• Why should you trust them?  Does the author have specialized degrees (master's or Ph.D.) or other qualifications (work experience) that give them authority?  An author's lived experiences may also make them uniquely qualified.  For example, an Autistic writer has a different type of authority than a medical doctor, though both may claim to be experts on the topic of autism.  Some challenge the value of advanced degrees as markers of authority due to inequities in higher education and society that make it more difficult for some people to earn them.
• Do they work for a reputable organization?  Colleges/universities and government are almost always reputable.  Nonprofits can be great sources of information but may have bias if they present only one point-of-view.
• Do they have a bias that might influence their writing?  If the author is an organization (common for websites), what is their mission?

What type of information is it?

• What type of source is this?  Newspapers typically go through more fact-checking and editing than most websites.  Most academic journal articles go through the rigorous peer-review process.
• What type of information does the source contain?  Is it "just the facts" or does it provide analysis and opinions? 
• What claims does the source make?  Does the source make claims that sound reasonable?  Can you find other reputable sources that make similar claims?  Does the author cite other sources to back-up their claims?  Citations might be a formal list of sources at the end (like in a scholarly article) or informal citations throughout the paper (like a newspaper article mentioning an interviewee's name and credentials). 
• What is the source's tone and why was it written?  Good sources keep a neutral tone and offer counterpoints from multiple sides of an issue.  A source may be biased if it uses loaded language that makes you feel strong emotions (e.g., outraged or terrified).  Does the source use dramatic or sensational language?  Do they exaggerate the fact to make the story more interesting?

Where did you find it?

• Did you find the source through the library or the open internet?  Sources from the library are usually more reliable than the open internet, but you should thoroughly evaluate every source you find.
• Where was it published?  What organization published the source?  Is it reputable?  Some publications have won awards for journalistic integrity, while others are considered tabloids or gossip magazines.  If you are not familiar with the publication, try a quick internet search to learn more about it.
• For websites, what is the domain?  .gov and .edu sites tend to be more reliable than most .coms and .orgs, but there are exceptions.  Anyone can create a .com or .org site, so evaluate them carefully.

When was it created/updated?

• Is the source current for your topic?  Currency matters for all topics, but it can be especially important for topics with recent developments (e.g., a new technology or an on-going event).
• Was the source influenced by the time it was written?  What is the historical context?  An old article about Andrew Jackson might gloss over his brutality towards Native Americans and enslaved people, a taboo topic at the time of writing.  Be critical of your author's perspective and factors that may have influenced it.
• What happened since the source was written?  Major events, like a global pandemic or new technology, may completely change the facts around your topic.  An article published today could be out-of-date, depending on what has happened since.

Why is this a good source?

• How does the source support your thesis or answer your research question?
• What parts of the source are most helpful to you?  Does it offer statistics, interviews or other evidence that is especially relevant?
• Why is this source better than others?  There are many sources on your topic.  What makes this one special?
• What are the source's strengths and weaknesses?  Every source will have some weaknesses or limitations.  That's okay.  It is important to understand weaknesses in your sources and find other sources that compensate.

If you can't answer these questions, you can try "lateral reading".

Citizen Literacy was created by Robert Detmering, Amber Willenborg, and Terri Holtze for University of Louisville Libraries and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.