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Credibility is Based on Authority
Who is the author? How do they construct their authority?
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Subject Expert - Academic (Credible Source)
- Their academic degree and scholarly affiliation are clearly stated on the resource.
- Author writes about their area of expertise.
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Societal Position - Office or Job Title (Reputable Source)
- Author has a bio page or organization has a bio page (usually labelled About Us or Our Mission or similar).
- Can cover topics outside of personal area of expertise, but they should be citing or quoting credible sources when doing so.
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Special Experience - Participant or Witness of a Historic Event
- Evaluate the author's connection to the specific event.
- How unique is their experience? Are there conflicting points of view?
