Finding Reliable Sources

All good persuasive arguments contain logos and ethos - logical proof, and expert opinion. So, it's essential that you be able to find evidence to support your claims. Not just any evidence, but CREDIBLE evidence.

If you've found an article, statistic or quote that you want to use, be sure that's it's reliable before you use it. Otherwise, your argument becomes invalid and easy to disprove.

Put it through the CRAAP test! This acronym will help you remember all of the ways to ensure that your source can be trusted.

Ideas and information can change quickly, so it's important to use evidence that is up to date. It's best to use sources that have been published within the last 10 years. When researching, be sure to check for clues that the information is not kept up to date, like broken links, or websites that haven't been updated recently.

When you are researching, you might find lots of sources that relate to your topic, but not all of them will support your claim. A RELEVANT piece of evidence is one that proves your point. Don't confuse your audience by using evidence that is related but has no value to your argument.

Inaccurate evidence is weak evidence, so always check to make sure that your source's information is true and verifiable. Do they cite the source of any statistics or quotes? Are there spelling and grammar errors? Is any part of the article misleading or unclear? Fact check anything you want to use as evidence!

Any source that you use should have strong ethos - or authority. They should be a recognized expert, trusted national publication, or a writer for a trusted national publication. Before quoting anyone, always find out if they have the credentials to qualify as someone whose opinion on the subject matters.

All publications have an agenda. Some want to inform, others want to persuade. What is the purpose of your source? Is it trying to sell you something? Does it have a clear bias? Does it try to sway your opinion? The best and most trusted sources present information in a way that gives you the facts, and allows you to draw your own conclusions.

For a source to be credible and reliable it has to pass the CRAAP test! It must be current, relevant, authoritative, accurate, and have an unbiased purpose.