How can I evaluate my sources?

Answer

Try the 5 W's to evaluate sources.

  1. Who wrote it? Think about the author's qualifications, education, profession, etc.

  2. What is it about? Does the content address the topic of your paper? Is it written at an appropriate level?

  3. When was it published? Is it current or out-of-date?

  4. Where was it published? Did it run in a popular magazine or a scholarly publication? What kind of website is hosting this information?

  5. Why was it written? Does the author have an agenda or bias?

You can also try our handy CRAAP test to help you evaluate your sources! Just click through the tabs or use this printable version.

Topics

  • Last Updated Apr 17, 2018
  • Views 43
  • Answered By Shawna

FAQ Actions

Was this helpful? 0 0