Currency

• When was the information published or last updated?
• Have newer articles been published on your topic?
• Are links or references to other sources up to date?
• Is your topic in an area that changes rapidly, like technology or popular culture?

Relevance

• Does the information answer your research question?
• Does the information meet the stated requirements of the assignment?
• Is the information too technical or too simplified for you to use?
• Does the source add something new to your knowledge of the topic?

Authority

• What are the author's credentials?
• Is the author affiliated with an educational institution or prominent organization?
• Can you find information about the author from reference sources or the Internet?
• Do other books or authors cite the author?

Accuracy

• Are there statements you know to be false?
• Are there errors in spelling, punctuation, or grammar?
• Was the information reviewed by editors or subject experts before it was published?
• What citations or references support the author's claims?
• What do other people have to say about the topic?

Purpose

• Is the author's purpose to sell, persuade, entertain, or inform?
• Is there an obvious bias or prejudice?
• Are alternative points of view presented?
• Does the author omit important facts or data that might disprove the claim?
• Does the author use strong or emotional language?