Finally, and perhaps most importantly, consider the source itself. Answering the following questions can help you determine whether the source is worth consideration:
What is the intended audience of the source? Does the source address an audience of experts, or is it intended for a general audience?
What is the purpose of the source? Does it review a number of different positions, or does it argue for a position of its own? If it makes its own argument, analyze the argument closely.
What is the tone of the source? Is the tone reasonable? Does the source respond to alternative viewpoints, and are those responses logical and reasonable?
To learn more about analyzing an argument, see Chapter 19.
What evidence is offered to support the argument? Is the evidence relevant and reliable? What kinds of citations or links does the source supply?