Look for original records, dates, definitions, and limits. Separate confirmed facts from unanswered questions.
Follow information to its origin
Keep the original document, publication date, relevant page, and retrieval date with your notes. A repeated claim can come from the same original source. Treat multiple repetitions differently from independent corroboration.
Show what a number means
Look for definitions, the period covered, the population counted, and missing information. Do not treat an unavailable figure as zero. If sources disagree, keep the disagreement visible while you investigate it.
Questions to carry with you
- What is the original source?
- What exactly is being counted or described?
- What limitation would change a reader’s interpretation?
One manageable next step
Add a source and a limitation note to one important claim before drafting around it.