The Turnitin Source Credibility Test is a tool developed by Turnitin to check the reliability of a source. It focuses on analyzing the following 6 criteria pertaining to a source. View an introductory video HERE.
○.com = company; most popular domain, anyone can use it○.org = organization; originally used for nonprofit organizations○.net = network; originally used for networking and storing database information○.gov = government; restricted for use by government bodies (.mil, .us)○.edu = education; usually related to an educational institution (.k12, .ac)○.cl = chilean website
What can you learn about the publisher from the “About Us” section?
○What are the goals/mission of the publisher?○Is the publisher sponsored by an organization that is trustworthy? Why?○Is the publisher/its contributors credible on this topic? How do you know?
What type of source is it, and what does that tell you about its credibility?
○Is it a news article, historical document, journal entry, biography, map, etc.?○Is it a social media post, a news story, a map, an advertisement, an informational article, etc.?○Is it a primary source (eyewitness/first-hand account of an event) or a secondary source (second-hand account of an event by someone who wasn’t there)?
Does the author aim to inform, persuade, or entertain the audience?
○Informational writing presents factual information in a fair and accurate way.○Persuasive writing includes opinions (trying to sell or convince the audience of something).○Entertaining writing includes satire (making fun of something) and gossip.
Who is the intended audience for this information?
○Is the writing targeted to people who have deep knowledge in the field, or is the writing intended for everyone to understand?
How much of the information appears to be factual?
○If the author appears to take a position on the issue, are both sides presented fairly and in an accurate way?○Are graphics or imagery used to sway the opinion of the audience? Is the information represented fairly?
What is the tone or voice of the author in the writing?
○Look at the word choices and sentence structure the author uses.■Are ideas presented in a professional, matter-of-fact way (mostly free of emotion)?■Or are ideas presented in a way that feels persuasive or emotional?
Does the writing appear to be biased (favoring one side heavily)?
○Is the author presenting all information fairly and accurately?○Does the writing present strong opinions on a political, religious, or cultural issue? Does it seem to unfairly support one side of the issue over the other?○Are there claims made that are not supported by evidence?