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English 99/108: Intro to College Writing

Check your sources!

You are constantly running across information online that may or may not be true.

There is a lot of online content that is "dressed up" to look reasonable but isn't true. Or it is half true or technically true but taken out of context or there is a lot more to it that you need to know.

And we know you are busy.

So, we want you to have tools that are easy to use and don't take too long to check the facts. And not just facts you don't like or don't fit with your thesis. Check quickly into all the sources you use. If there are red flags, move on! You have lots to pick from, be picky.

On this page, you will find links to tools that will help you FACT-CHECK or SOURCE QUALITY CHECK. 

Evaluating online sources with the Four Moves

We recommend that you use these four moves to help you uncover the truth of a claim. We will cover them in class, but if you miss it or need a refresher, you will see a summary below, or better yet, you can follow the link provided to explore each move more carefully. As you read and research, you will want to stop, investigate the source, find better coverage, and trace back to the original context. This isn't meant to be time-consuming. It IS meant to be thorough!

  • STOP. Think critically. Avoid being too emotionally charged or looking for information that confirms your own biases. Have an open mind to consider new or controversial topics, and seek to understand. Also, just spend a minute on the site. Can you easily see who publishes the site and do you know anything about them? What words or pictures do you notice? Any red flags? No? Move on!

  • INVESTIGATE. When you spend a little time on the page, can you find out who wrote the article? Is there a tone or bias to be aware of? Do a quick search to find out more about the publisher or sponsor of the page. 

  • FIND BETTER COVERAGE. Find the main point of the article and quickly Google it. Can you find a better article on the same topic? Better could mean longer, less biased, more sources cited, pictures and diagrams included or easier to understand. 

  • TRACE CLAIMS. Trace claims, quotes, and media to the original source.