Authority is determined by an author's credentials. As you read through your sources, find out what the author's qualifications are. Do they have a degree in the field? Have they published works on similar topics? Do they write for a reputable journal, magazine, or newspaper? There are a lot of articles out there written by people who are not experts on the subject.

Which article is more authoritative? (Click on the citation to make your choice.)

	This article is written by a historian for a general history magazine. This article is more likely to be objective.
This article is written by a musician for one of the most respected magazines in music, but the article might not be objective.