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English (ENGL) 074/150/250 and READ Courses Guide

SIFT - Image

SIFT stands for Stop, Investigate the Source, Find Better Coverage, Trace claims, quotes, and media to the original context

"SIFT is an evaluation strategy developed by digital literacy expert Michael Caulfield (Washington State University Vancouver) to help you judge whether or online content can be trusted for credible and reliable information."

Credit: Wayne State University Library's SIFT libguide 

The SIFT method is a series of four moves that help you develop better judgement about information you find online. 

Using SIFT won't make you an expert on a topic and it won't necessarily help you resolve complex questions, but if you use the four SIFT steps before you engage with an online source, you will apply your attention and time more productively and accurately. In the end, it will help you avoid errors that a lot of people make online.

Credit: Sift: The Four Moves (CC By)

Stop

Stop! Just stop! Especially if the source evokes a strong emotion, surprises you, or creates a desire to share the information. 

 

Investigate the Source

The key idea here is to know what you're reading before you read it. Does the source or sharing source have enough credibility on its own?

 

Find Better Coverage

Finding better coverage may mean finding a better source, several better sources, or even finding the original source. If something is true, there are likely better sources.

This is a GREAT time to find library materials about your topic!

Trace It Back

Trace claims, quotes, and media back to the original context. Much of what we find on the internet has been stripped of context.