In evaluating sources, the first step is to identify the main topic of the source. Which word completes this statement?

In evaluating sources, the first step is to identify the main topic of the source. Which word completes this statement?

• A. subject
• B. evidence
• C. motivation
• D. biased

Answer: (A)

The subject is the word that completes the statement. Identifying the subject tells you what the source is about, which sets the topic and scope you’re dealing with. Knowing the main topic helps you judge relevance and place the source in the right context before you move on to evaluating credibility or usefulness. The other terms describe things that come after you’ve pinned down the topic: evidence is what the source provides to support its points, motivation is why the author wrote it, and bias is a potential slant in the presentation. So starting with the subject gives you a solid anchor for evaluating the source.

The subject is the word that completes the statement. Identifying the subject tells you what the source is about, which sets the topic and scope you’re dealing with. Knowing the main topic helps you judge relevance and place the source in the right context before you move on to evaluating credibility or usefulness. The other terms describe things that come after you’ve pinned down the topic: evidence is what the source provides to support its points, motivation is why the author wrote it, and bias is a potential slant in the presentation. So starting with the subject gives you a solid anchor for evaluating the source.