US History + English II · Studio 1 · Fri Sep 4 · Mini-Lesson

Finding a
Credible Source

Not just a source — one you can actually trust with your argument.
~15 min. This is the source-evaluation skill for Dig. Pairs with the worksheet.
Why this matters

Your argument is only as strong as your weakest source. One shaky source and a smart claim falls apart. So before a source goes in your log — interrogate it.

The Credibility Check · 5 questions
Who?

Who made it — an expert, an institution, a firsthand witness — or anonymous?

Why?

Why was it made — to inform, or to sell / persuade / provoke? What's the agenda?

When?

Recent enough for the topic — or a primary source from the right time?

How?

How do they back it up — evidence, data, citations — or just opinions?

Who else?

Can you find it confirmed in another credible source? (Read sideways.)

Spot them fast
Green flags
  • A named author with credentials
  • A university (.edu), museum, gov (.gov), or established outlet
  • Cites its evidence
  • Dated
  • Matches other credible sources
Red flags
  • No author / anonymous
  • Selling something or ranting
  • All opinion, no evidence
  • No date
  • You can't find it anywhere else
  • An AI summary with no real sources
Where credible sources live

Start where the vetting
is already done.

Your SDA Reading Library first · then library databases, universities, museums, .gov. Be careful with random blogs, social media, and AI answers — use those to find a lead, then go verify the real source.

Model it live. Ask the room which one they'd trust and WHY (walk the 5 checks).
Model it · two sources on Sinclair & Progressive reform
Which one goes in your log?
✅
A Smithsonian / university page on The Jungle and the Pure Food and Drug Act — named author, cites primary evidence, dated, .edu/.org. Who/Why/How all check out.
❌
"RealHistoryUncovered.blog" — no author, one heated opinion, no evidence, exists nowhere else. Fails Who, How, and Who-else.
✍️ On your worksheet now
Credibility Check

Run a source you're considering through the 5 questions. Mark its green & red flags. Then give it a verdict: ✅ use it · ⚠️ corroborate first · ❌ replace it.

If it fails — that's a win. Better to catch it now than at exhibition.
The habit

Never cite a source
you can't vouch for.

Who · Why · When · How · Who else. Five questions, every source, all six weeks.
~10 min. Silent, sustained write — hold them to 200 words. This feeds Monday's conferences; their "Stuck" becomes your conference list. Quiet music helps.
SDA Journal · write at least 200 words
Done

What did you lock in this week? Name your studio angle on “When the System Fails” in one full sentence, then say what you actually finished — your Studio Contract, your first sources, a question you cracked. What are you proud of, and why?

Stuck

Where are you stuck, or what don't you understand yet? What is the hardest question your angle is forcing you to wrestle with? What might get in your way next week — and what kind of help would move you forward?

Plan

What is your first move when we start digging on Tuesday? Name the first source you'll chase and exactly where you'll look for it. What do you want to be able to show by the end of next week?

Minimum 200 words — full sentences, honest and specific. Write like you're thinking out loud to yourself.
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