Who’s The Author?

Worksheet Description

This worksheet is designed to guide individuals through the evaluation of a source’s credibility, with a focus on understanding the author’s qualifications and intentions. It prompts the user to consider if the author is respected in their field, whether the source cites references to verify claims, the currency of the source in relation to the research topic, the author’s purpose, and the types of sources the audience will value. It also encourages users to be wary of potential biases and to evaluate the source’s credibility based on the audience’s perspective and the reputation of the cited sources.

The worksheet is intended to teach students how to critically assess the trustworthiness of information sources. It instructs them to examine the author’s authority, the relevance and timeliness of the source, and to scrutinize the author’s objectives and potential conflicts of interest. It also guides students to consider the audience’s expectations and the credibility of the publication or organization behind the source. Ultimately, students learn to form a judgment on whether a source is credible and suitable for their research needs.