Does the author have the expertise to write on this topic?

Determine the expertise of authors by investigating their educational background, work experience, and other writings. To find this information, you might have to look in several places.

• Use a reference source at your library, such as Who's Who, to find reliable biographical information.
• Use the library catalog or a periodical index to see if the author has written any other books or articles on the topic.
• If you are using a web source, locate information about the author by looking in the header or footer. Or, look in the dust jacket or preface to find biographical data in a book.
• Use a search engine to find an online résumé or page about the author's credentials.