Evaluating sources

Author
Credibility 
Publication date (Timeliness)
Biases of author/publisher
Purpose of writing
Relevance
Use of evidence

1. Identify the type of source you are reading
Print, web publication, and Field research source
2.Identify your main points
3. Identify the reasons 
4. Consider the use of evidences
Rhetorical strategies
Ethos --- appeal to authority (author), to build credibility
Pathos --- appeal to emotion 
Logos --- appeal to logic, reasoning, 
Appeals to principles, values, and beliefs -- Religious/ethical arguments 
Appeals to character -- " trust me" strategy 
Reasoning based on the empirical evidence -- data, numerical form --- statistics, survey, observation --- quantative data  
5. Author
 Biases of the author 
6. Publisher 
7. Timeliness
 Source's publication date 


Primary sources
Personal experiences 
Survey -- interpret results fairly