ENGL 100 - Expository Writing

Here is a short description of a strategy you can use to triangulate your sources.

S - Stop. Do you know what you're looking at?
   Get off the page.

I - Investigate the Source. Go check out the source. Is there any context or credibility you can glean from the source? Sometimes, the sharing source (the source that shared the information and you are now looking at) is enough if that person or publication has enough credibility. Sometimes it's not, and we have to go and find out what others have said. 

F - Find Better Coverage. If the sharing source is suspect or gives you pause (or even if it doesn't), you need to try and find better coverage. If you found a social media post about writing, but that person isn't necessarily an expert in the field, go find an expert or more authoritative sources. What do they say? 

T - Trace the Claim. Trace the claim to the original context. Perhaps the information highlighted in the sharing source was originally reported in an academic article. Go find that academic article and get more context for what was said. How does that change your understanding of the source or information?

The SIFT Method was developed by Mike Caulfield.

When searching for resources (especially on the Internet), keep the following five points in mind.

1. Currency: Is the information current and up-to-date? 
2. Relevance: Is the information related and relevant to your topic? Is the information at an appropriate level (i.e. not too elementary or advanced for your needs)? 
3. Authority: What is the reputation or credentials of the creator?
4. Accuracy: Can you verify the information you found? Does the language or tone seem unbiased and free of emotion? 
5. Purpose/Objectivity: Is the purpose of the resource to inform? How might the author's bias influence the information?

Watch the following video to learn how to evaluate sources.

Evaluating Sources by Western Libraries
 (Western Libraries)/ CC BY-NC-ND 3.0