CMST 220 - Public Speaking (Martin): Home

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Is a source worth your time and energy? Is it appropriate for your needs? Here is a way to evaluate all types of sources.

• Author: Look for the author’s name(s), credentials, expertise, other work, reputation, recommendations
• Sources: Look for a bibliography, works cited, or other list of sources the author used
• Age: Look for the publication or copyright date. Is it current enough for your topic?
• Publisher: Look for the name of the publisher (or parent website). What other kinds of sources does this publisher provide? What does a Google or Wikipedia search for this publisher say?

• Stop and ask yourself:
  • Do I know this website?
  • Do I know this information source?
  • Do I know it's reputation?
  • Am I having a positive or negative emotional response to this information?
• Investigate the source
  • Use Google or Wikipedia to investigate a news organization or other resource.
  • Hovering is another technique to learn more about who is sharing information, especially on social media platforms such as Twitter.
• Find better coverage
  • Look and see what other coverage is available on the same topic
  • Keep track of trusted news sources
  • Use fact-checking sites
  • Do a reverse image search
• Trace claims, quotes, and media back to the original context
  • Click through to follow links to claims
  • Open up the original reporting sources listed in a bibliography if present
  • Look at the original context. Was the claim, quote, or media fairly represented?