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PS222 Life Beyond Earth: Evaluating Sources

Evaluating Resources Activiy

Things to Think about When Evaluating Sources

Things to Think about When Evaluating Sources​

Quick Set of Questions
  • Who is behind the information?
  • What is the evidence?
  • What do other sources say?
Additional Questions
  • What website is the source part of? What is the purpose and audience of that website?
  • What information can you find about the overall website/organization elsewhere (from other websites)?
  • Who wrote it?  What are the author's credentials?
  • Where did the author get the information they present in the source? And is the science accurately conveyed? 
  • Is the information in the source recent/up-to-date? 
  • What are the overall strengths or limitations?

Strategies to Use

Lateral Reading

Navigate away from the site itself, and see what other sources have to say about the website or organization. Even taking a look at the Wikipedia page can help!

Click Restraint

The first few search results aren't always the best or most helpful sources to use, so take some time to scroll through your results--even looking at the second page!--before you pick a few to click on.

Useful Commentary

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