CNX 214: Collage

Who

• Who wrote the source? Can you find an author or authors listed on the source? 
• What kind of background does (do) the author(s) have? Try Googling their name -- what else have they written? 
• Who is the publisher of the source? What interests might they have that would shape the way the source is written? 

What

• What is the source about? Does the author have the appropriate knowledge or experience to write about the topic? What are their credentials and affiliations? 
• What information is the author citing? Do they provide references? Can you track down their sources? 

When

• When was the source written? How might the culture of that time influence the content? 
• Can you find a date anywhere on the website or source? 

Where

• For a website, what is the URL? 
  • Sometimes you can tell more about a website based on the end of its address (e.g. .edu, .com, .gov), but this is not always an indicator of reliable information. 
• Where was the source published, if not online? What perspective is it coming from? 

Why

• Think back to the author of the source, if you found one. What possible motivation could they have for writing the source? 
• Does the source have a clear message? Does that message align with the author's or website's intentions? 

How

• How did you find the source? Through the library, the open web, or somewhere else? 
• How is the source getting its message across? Is it using particularly persuasive language? Why?