Evaluate Sources
Evaluating a source is not about memorizing a checklist. It is about asking whether the source deserves trust and whether it actually supports the claim you are making.
Which would you trust more?
Source A: “Students love later start times!” — anonymous blog post, no method, no data.
Source B: attendance records from a school district before and after changing start times.
Ask who produced it
Look at expertise, incentives, method, and reputation.
A confident tone or famous website name is not enough.
Ask how the result was produced
Was it a survey, experiment, observational study, government report, or anecdote?
Different methods can support different kinds of claims.
Ask what it really proves
Check who was studied, when, where, and under what conditions.
Do not turn a narrow finding into a universal conclusion.
Then ask whether it fits your argument
Source B may be stronger than Source A, but it still only helps if your argument is actually about attendance.
Credibility and relevance are both necessary.
Example
A well-designed study of 80 university students can be credible for that population. It still should not automatically be presented as proof about all children, adults, and countries. A good source can be used badly.
Common mistake
Saying “According to Harvard…” and assuming the institution name settles both credibility and relevance.
Try this
Take one source and answer: Who made it? How did they get the result? Who or what did they study? What does the source actually prove? Does that match my claim?
Keep in mind
A source can be trustworthy and still be the wrong evidence for your argument.
Practice this skill
Use it in a real debate and see how well it holds up when you have to respond to an opponent.