evaluating Sources

1 - Stop

The first "move" is the most straightforward. When you open a new source, ask yourself:

1) Do I know this source, the reputation, reliability, and credibility? If you cannot say "yes" to these questions, continue to the second "move".

2) When you begin the fact checking process, it's easy to get distracted by all the information you find. You may want to "stop", remind yourself of your purpose or intent, then determine how to proceed. 

2 - Investigate 

The basic idea of this "move" is simple: Know what you are reading / viewing before taking time to read / view it. Who published the material? What is their connection to the topic? Is there a reason to trust (or suspect) this source? Can you confirm the information in other sources? 

Open new tabs and conduct quick searches on Google, Wikipedia, or some of the fact checker sites linked below to scrutinize your source.

3 - Find Better Coverage

Take a moment to look at other coverage of the same claims, noting sources you've already deemed reliable. Scan multiple sources and seek a consensus. What facts and claims are you able to verify from a variety of sources?

4 - Trace Claims & 

Connect to Your Original Context

Thinking about context is essential to considering what you find on the Internet. "In some cases...trace the claim, quote, or media back to the source, so you can see it in its original context and get a sense if the version you saw was accurately presented." What has been truncated, stripped away, or removed from what you are reading or viewing? What is the full context of the event, claim, video, etc.?