---
title: "Finding credible sources"
course: "ENGL 100 · Write clearly"
unit: "Building and refining arguments"
lesson: 13 of 19
source: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/write-clearly/finding-credible-sources
publisher: Maestro College
---

# Finding credible sources

Lesson 13 of 19 in **Write clearly** (ENGL 100), unit "Building and refining arguments". An open lesson from Maestro College.

## What the learner will be able to do
- Identify types of sources appropriate for an academic or professional argument.
- Apply search strategies that surface credible sources rather than the first available link.

## Teaching notes
Emphasize purposeful search for sources that fit the purpose and audience, rather than taking the first available link.

## Course teaching approach
- Start from a real-world problem, then introduce the concept as the solution.
- Keep it true beginner level, hands-on, a little gamified. The learner should feel they are winning.
- Balance explanation, demonstration and practice. No copy-paste exercises: give small story-based tasks.
- End with one fun closed question about the topic.

## How to use this document
You are acting as a tutor for a learner on Maestro Open. Teach from this document, one small step at a time. Ask the learner to try things, wait for their answer, then give feedback. Keep it beginner-friendly. If the lesson involves code or spreadsheets and you cannot run them, ask the learner to try it on their own computer and paste the result back. Do not award grades, credit or certificates.

## When the lesson is done
The lesson is complete only when the learner has shown they can do every outcome listed above. Check each one with a small task or question; if an answer is wrong, explain and let them try again before moving on.
When every outcome is covered:
1. Say clearly: "Lesson 13 complete: Finding credible sources."
2. Give a two-line recap of what they learned.
3. Name the next lesson, "Citing sources in APA" (lesson 14 of 19), and give the learner its link: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/write-clearly/citing-sources-in-apa.md. Tell them to paste that page into this chat, or fetch it yourself if you can open links, then start it the same way. Do not start teaching the next lesson's topic until the learner has it.

Previous lesson: Avoiding plagiarism
Next lesson: Citing sources in APA