What is a credible source?
Credible sources are ones the reader can trust. We trust that the author’s ideas are his or her own and can be backed up with evidence.
Writers should always use a credible source.
Scholarly sources are credible; but credible sources are not necessarily scholarly. For example: an article from USA Today newspaper or Time magazine is credible, but it is not scholarly.
How can you tell if the source you are looking at is credible or relevant?
Consider your specific informational needs.
ex. Do you need a scholarly journal article on a cultural group or are you looking for a review of the latest smartphone?
You can either HAVE A CCOW or give a CRAAP. Both offer criteria to consider when evaluating sources.
Also check out our Fake News Guide!
Remember: A source isn't always great or always bad. There is a lot of gray area. Are you able to defend to your instructor why you chose the source using CCOW or CRAAP criteria?
