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Exercise 1-3C: Source Checklist

Answer the following questions to evaluate your sources:
  1. Does the source name an author/authors?
  2. Google the author. Is the author qualified to write on this topic? 
  3. Does the source include a publication date?
  4. Are you familiar with the publication in which the source appears?
  5. Look at other sources in this publication.  Do you notice specific biases?
  6. Does the source cite sources and include a reference page and/or does the source use attribution (such as “according to”) to list sources?
  7. Are the sources cited/mentioned qualified to speak to this topic?
  8. Does the source have a clear focus or argument?
  9. Does the source support this argument well?
  10. Is the source well organized?
  11. Does the source come from a site that does not allow user edits?

 If you answered “no” to any of the questions above, consider the effect of that specific element on the credibility/reliability of your source.  What will your readers think when they notice this omission? How might the omission affect the strength of your own composition if you chose to use this source?