Credibility — English definition
Defined in 4 courses:
- Reasons to trust a source for a particular claim. (English 6)
- How trustworthy and reliable a source is, based on the author's expertise, evidence, and accuracy. (English 9: Experience, Perspective & Inquiry)
- How trustworthy, expert, and unbiased the source of a piece of evidence is. (English 10: Choices, Conscience & Consequences)
- How trustworthy a source is, based on the author's expertise, the publisher, and whether claims are backed by verifiable evidence. (English 10: Choices, Conscience & Consequences)
Where it is taught
- Research Questions, Notes & Source Credit — Research, Media, Discussion & Presentation, English 6, Grade 6
- Evaluating Sources & Bias — Research & Source-Based Writing, English 9: Experience, Perspective & Inquiry, Grade 9
- Analyzing Arguments — Argument, Rhetoric & Tragic Choices, English 10: Choices, Conscience & Consequences, Grade 10
- Evaluating Sources — Research & Source-Based Writing, English 10: Choices, Conscience & Consequences, Grade 10
In use
The first test is credibility — how much a source has earned your trust.
Evaluating Sources & Bias
Sufficiency also cares about the credibility and independence of sources: five studies funded by the same company are far weaker than two or three genuinely independent ones.
Analyzing Arguments
Credibility alone is not enough, though, because a perfectly trustworthy source can still be the wrong source.
Evaluating Sources
Taught alongside
- research question
- paraphrase
- quotation
- source ledger
- bias
- primary source
- secondary source
- currency
- relevant evidence
- sufficient evidence
- valid reasoning
- warrant
- relevance