Scribd
Upload
31 views1 page

Evaluating Sources Activity

The document provides guidelines for evaluating sources related to a debate topic, focusing on criteria such as authority, purpose, currency, reliability, and coverage. It emphasizes the importance of assessing the author's credentials, the accuracy and bias of the information, and the relevance and reliability of web sources. Additionally, it encourages critical analysis of the arguments presented and the acknowledgment of opposing viewpoints.

Uploaded by

47y7jk4mzz
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
31 views1 page

Evaluating Sources Activity

The document provides guidelines for evaluating sources related to a debate topic, focusing on criteria such as authority, purpose, currency, reliability, and coverage. It emphasizes the importance of assessing the author's credentials, the accuracy and bias of the information, and the relevance and reliability of web sources. Additionally, it encourages critical analysis of the arguments presented and the acknowledgment of opposing viewpoints.

Uploaded by

47y7jk4mzz
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Evaluating Sources

Find one source related to your debate topic and evaluate it based on the criteria found below.
This source, if on the list of good sources, can be used for later Debate assignments.

Criteria for Evaluating Sources


Authority
1. What are the author’s credentials?
2. Is the author qualified to write about X topic? How do you know?

Purpose
1. If the source is a web source, how accurate is the web site?
2. Can you trust that the information or article will be accurate and knowledgeable, and
how so?
3. Is there bias or an agenda? If so, what is the bias and/or agenda? How does the article
stray from fact to opinion?
4. If from a web site, is there a sponsor for the web site? What bias might that indicate?

Currency
1. How current is the article?
2. Is it still applicable, or does it contain inaccurate information that is out-of-date?

Reliability (for Web Sources)


1. Do all the links work on the site if the article is from a web site?
2. When was the last time the site was updated?
3. Do you think this site will still be there long term? Why or why not?

Coverage
1. What argument or ideas related to your topic does the article offer?
2. What information is included in the article?
3. What information is omitted?
4. Are any of the author's claims/views questionable? What and how so?
5. Does the author address any opposing viewpoints? Which ones?
6. Does the article only summarize information about another book, movie, or tv show, like
info about characters, plot, setting, etc.? (If so, it's not a good source.)

You might also like