GWS 285 / POL 285: Sex, Power, and Politics in the US: Tips for Evaluating Sources

Factors to consider when evaluating sources

• Authority: Is the author an expert in this topic, either through study or experience?
• Currency: When was the source written? Is the information up to date?
• Evidence: Are claims in the source backed up with evidence? Is the evidence clearly cited? Are claims corroborated in other sources?
• Purpose: Is the source meant to inform? Persuade? Does it have external funding? If so, who funded it? What might their purpose be? Who is the intended audience?
• Relevance: Does the source help me accomplish my task?
• Scope: Do your sources provide various perspectives that help you get the big picture?

• Fact Checker (The Washington Post)
• FactCheck.org (Annenberg Public Policy Center)
• Politifact (Poynter Institute for Media Studies)

Sources: Mike Caufield’s Check, Please! Starter Course and Web Literacy for Student Fact-Checkers

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