Latino Immigration: LAS 0854

IMVAIN is a mneumonic used to help evaluate sources that show up in news stories:

Independent sources are preferable to self-interested sources.

Multiple sources are preferable to a report based on a single source.

Sources who Verify or provide verifiable information are preferable to those who merely assert.

Authoritative and/or Informed sources are preferable to sources who are uninformed or lack authoritative background.

Named sources are better than anonymous ones.

Relevance & Appropriateness

• Does this pertain to your topic?
• Is this important to your topic?
• Will this support your thesis?

Authority & Credibility

• Who is writing this?
• Are they qualified to write on this subject?

Accuracy & Verifiability

• Are there references to check validity?
• Is the data available on claims made?

Bias & Objectivity

• Is this author expressing their opinion as fact?
• Are they trying to sway your viewpoint?

Currency & Timeliness

• When was this written?
• Is the date of the information relational to the source?

Scope & Depth

• Does it have breadth? Broad in scope
• Does it have depth? Intense in scope Intended

Audience & Purpose

• Who is this written for?
• What are they accomplishing by writing this?