You can use the rhetorical triangle to evaluate information.
Look at the competence and expertise of the author in the area they are writing.
Consider who the information is written for and whether you fit into that group.
Use the context of where the information is found as well as the context within which it was written.
When deciding whether to use an article, it is helpful to identify three things:
1. Who is the Author?
2. Who is the intended Audience?
3. What is the article's Purpose?
See the following table for examples of how to evaluate different article types looking at the author, audience, and purpose for each one.
| Source type | Source title | Sample article title & summary | Author | Audience | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magazine |
National Geographic
|
"Eating Green" Discusses environmentally conscious eating choices. Consumers can choose organic options, purchase locally grown foods, and walk or bike to farmers markets to help reduce their carbon footprints. |
Journalist hired by magazine editor | General public - interested consumer | Edited articles offer an overview on a topic or current events. These general interest articles are for entertainment and to sell ads to make a profit. |
| Trade journal |
Food Technology
|
"Is Local Better?" The author reports that eating local at the basic level makes sense because fewer food miles, or the distance food travels before it reaches the consumer, equal fewer emissions. |
Journalist hired by editor | Practitioners/professionals |
Editor and possibly an editorial board offer articles of interest to those working in that field; the purpose will be to offer advice and tips to those in the trade. Also includes some ads related to the profession. |
| Scholarly journal |
Journal of Morphology
|
"Evidence for most and least fattening local eating: Customs from individuals' reports in their culture's terms" The least fattening patterns of behavior can be identified in a culture's own words. |
Researchers working in the field, often in teams and with university affiliations. |
Researchers/experts working in the field; students |
To share peer-reviewed research on a very specific aspects of a discipline using specialized vocabulary. Goes into lengthy detail. Often has charts and graphs. Always has citations/references; few or no ads. |
