To evaluate a source that you may want to use for a paper or presentation, use the 5Ws+H questions below to do a quick review for credibility. These questions help you to examine the source itself plus what others say about the source.
Who is the author or creator?
- An Expert, Scholar, Journalist, Nonprofit, Corporation, Government, Advertiser / Influencer, Unknown?
- Look up the author using a search engine to learn about their background.
When was it published / posted?
- Is it timely for your topic?
Where was it published / posted?
- Scholarly journal, Magazine, News source, Website, Social media, Other?
- Look up the publication or website on Wikipedia or using a search engine. What did you learn about the source?
Why does the source exist?
- Inform, Persuade, Politicize, Research, Educate, Entertain, Sell?
What is the main idea?
- How is it relevant to your topic?
How does it incorporate evidence?
- Reference list (cited works), Quotes, Charts / graphs, Methodology, Original research / Data, Anecdote / Personal Experience, Other?
Adapted from: The Source + Beyond the Source Evaluation Framework by DePaul University Library CC:BY:NC
