Directions
For this journal activity, you will review the sources linked in the Supporting Materials section. Then, use the provided checklist in the Supporting Materials section to determine if the source is credible or not credible and explain your rating choice.
Note: The sources may be unrelated to your project. This activity serves as an exploration of evaluating the credibility of sources.
Specifically, you must address the following rubric criteria:
Identify a rating for each source.
You can rate each source as not credible, somewhat credible, or very credible.
Use the provided checklist when making your rating.
Explain the rating that you chose for each source.
How did the criteria in the checklist make something more or less credible?
What to Submit
Submit your journal assignment as a 1- to 2-page Microsoft Word document with 12-point Times New Roman font, double spacing, and one-inch margins.
MAT 126 Module Two Journal: Evaluating Credible Sources
Use the checklist below to evaluate the trustworthiness of a source.
Authority
• Does the source clearly state the name(s) of the author(s)?
• Do the author(s) have expertise on the topic (look for education, place of work, past experience,
past publications)?
• Is the publisher or organization reputable (look for academic or scholarly affiliations like .edu or
.gov)?
• Is the source well-written, error-free, and easy to navigate?
Bias
• Does the source avoid offering an opinion or persuasion? Look for objective language, free from
emotion.
• Is the source professional (avoids humor or entertainment value)?
• Is the source free from advertisements or is it trying to sell a product?
• Is the publisher free from bias or leanings toward certain viewpoints?
Accuracy
• Are sources cited and referenced?
• Can you find the contact information for the author or publisher?
Currency
• Does the source provide a publication date?
• Is the publication date recent (less than 10 years in most cases)?
• Has the source been shared, cited, or republished?
Examples of Credible Sources
• Research paper, book, or article that is peer-reviewed and/or written by well-respected
author(s)
• Scholarly journals or articles from an academic database such as the Shapiro Library or Google
Scholar
• Government or educational institution websites (.gov, .edu)
• Reputable newspaper/news site/magazine
What to Avoid
• Blog posts or social network posts (i.e., on Facebook, Twitter, personal websites)
• Out-of-date material
• Research articles without citations .
this professor is using turnitin to grade the paper or check it for plagerism and a.i
