OTWONO LABS / NOTEBOOK
Trace a source to its origin
Learn one step at a time, with examples, practice and a place for your questions.
Start this lessonOriginal introductory guidance from OTWONO Labs. Examples are illustrative and do not report an actual study or award learning credit.
Follow the actual reference
When an article says a study shows something, look for the study title, author or linked document. A chain of summaries can repeat the same assertion without adding independent support.
Record the exact support
Save the source title, date, address and relevant section. Write which part supports the claim and which parts are your interpretation. If you cannot access the original, label the limitation.
Check whether the source fits
Ask whether the people, conditions and outcome in the source match the claim you are evaluating. A useful source for a narrow question may not support a much broader claim.
Notice revisions
Check for corrections, updated versions or changed definitions. Record which version you read so another person can understand your reasoning later.
Try it
Choose an ordinary factual claim in an article. Follow its references as far as you can. Write a source trail with one sentence per step. End with either the original support or a clear statement of where the trail stops.
Published September 2026. Suggest a correction or browse the library.