• Can you find a publication date, creation date, or copyright date?
• Does the information seem out of date?
• The currency of information will be more important for topics that require the most up-to-date information, such as the sciences.

Strategy: In a book, look towards the front for the publication year or copyright date. For an article, look at the top or bottom for a date. For a website, look at the top or bottom of the webpage.

• Who is the author?
• What are his/her qualifications, or credentials?
• Is he/she an expert in that particular field?
• How much has the author published?
• Do other people make reference to his/her work?
• Who is responsible for publishing the source or hosting it online?

Strategy: Do a Google search for the author's name and analyze the results.

• How reliable is the information?
• Can the facts be checked against other sources?
• Are sources of factual information and statistics cited?
• How does this compare to other information sources on the same topic?
• Is the information free of spelling, grammar, and typographical errors?

Strategy: Search for an article, book, or website on the same topic and compare the information in both sources.

• What is the depth and breadth of the information?
• Does this information source have any real value?
• How does this compare to other sources on the same topic?
• Does it cover the same information? More information or less information?

Strategy: Look at the content. Do you feel that it provides enough information and will be helpful for your topic?

• Does the information have a bias?
• Does the information have an agenda, or trying to sell something?
• How does the viewpoint compare to other information sources on the same topic?

Strategy: Read the text. Does it seem like the content simply conveys information, or is it trying to persuade?