The fastest way to get value from Source Critic is to give the AI a learning job, not just a topic. A topic says what you are interested in. A learning job says what kind of help you need.
For this mode, the job is simple: Evaluate articles, claims, videos, or posts for evidence, bias, reliability, and missing context.
Start with one clear request
Good prompts usually include three things: the subject, your current level, and the kind of help you want. You do not need perfect wording. You only need enough context for the session to begin.
Try one of these starters:
- "Is this article reliable?"
- "Check this claim's evidence"
- "Spot bias in this paragraph"
Then add a constraint that makes the session more personal:
- "Keep it beginner friendly."
- "Ask me questions before explaining too much."
- "Check my answer before giving yours."
- "Give me a harder version after I try."
- "Use examples from my exam, project, or daily life."
Turn the mode into practice
Reading an AI response is not the same as learning. After the first answer, ask the mode to make you do something with the idea.
For Source Critic, a useful practice loop is:
- State the goal in one sentence.
- Ask for a tiny first task.
- Respond before asking for the solution.
- Request feedback on the part that felt uncertain.
- End with a recap you write yourself.
That final recap is important. When you explain the idea back, you reveal what is solid and what is still borrowed from the AI.
Make the output more useful
If the response feels too broad, narrow it. Ask for one example, one misconception, one check question, or one next step. If it feels too easy, ask for a challenge. If it feels too hard, ask for a bridge from what you already know.
The best learning sessions are adjustable. This mode is tuned for source critic with its own prompts, examples, and learning flow.
Related learning paths
Use Source Critic when this is the right mode for the job. If you want a related path, try Research Assistant. You can also browse the AI learning blog for study methods, Socratic learning, flashcards, roleplay, and active recall.
How to turn this prompt loop into active learning
Source Critic prompts and study loop is designed to be used, not just read. The best next step is to move from the article into a specific learning job: open Source Critic, give it context, answer before asking for the solution, and use the feedback to decide what to review next.
When Source Critic is the right next step
Source Critic fits this article because it is built for thinking learning, not generic chat. Learners exploring thinking topics who want practical guidance instead of a generic answer box.
Inside the live mode, the core job is: Teach critical source evaluation.. That focus keeps the session pointed at progress instead of another long explanation.
- Judge credibility and bias
- Start with example prompts
- Adapt the session to your goal
A stronger first prompt
A weak prompt only names a topic. A strong prompt names the topic, the level, the sticking point, and the kind of help you want. Use this prompt loop as the context, then ask the mode to make you do something with it.
The session should follow this loop: Evaluate evidence, author, motive, corroboration, and missing perspectives.. If the AI skips straight to the finish, ask it to slow down and check your reasoning first.
- Start with "Is this article reliable?", then add what you already know and where you are stuck.
- Start with "Check this claim's evidence", then add what you already know and where you are stuck.
- Start with "Spot bias in this paragraph", then add what you already know and where you are stuck.
Checks that keep the learning honest
Good output for this mode should feel usable: Use a credibility scorecard and questions to investigate next.. If the response is too broad, ask for one example, one misconception, or one check question.
Before leaving the article, prove that the idea is yours. Write a short recap from memory, answer a fresh question, or explain the concept to an imaginary beginner without copying the AI's phrasing.
- Did you answer at least one question before reading the correction?
- Can you explain the main idea without looking back at the article?
- Do you know which route to use next: a mode, prompt, subject hub, or related guide?
A 12-minute Source Critic practice loop
Use "Source Critic prompts and study loop" as a launchpad, not a stopping point. The strongest learning session moves from reading into recall, feedback, and one visible next step.
- 01Name the learning job
Write one sentence that says what you want to understand, remember, decide, or produce after reading this guide.
- 02Open Source Critic
Use the live mode and paste your goal, a paragraph from the article, or the part that still feels fuzzy. Ask for one small task before asking for a full explanation.
- 03Make the AI test your thinking
Ask for a misconception check, a short retrieval question, or a harder example. Answer before asking the AI to correct you.
- 04Close with proof
Finish by writing a five-bullet recap from memory, then ask for the one weak spot to review tomorrow.
Before you leave the guide
- Can you explain the main idea without looking back at the article?
- Could you handle a starter prompt like "Is this article reliable?" with less help than before?
- Did the AI check your reasoning instead of simply replacing it?
- Do you have a next route open: a mode, subject hub, workflow, or related guide?
Turn this guide into a learning route.
The article is only the starting point. These public routes connect the idea to a live mode, subject hub, study path, or workflow.
Evaluate articles, claims, videos, or posts for evidence, bias, reliability, and missing context.
Open routeSubject hubAI Writing TutorUse inspir for essay feedback, reading support, speaking practice, source critique, and revision loops that improve structure without replacing the learner's voice.
Open routeWorkflowThink critically about sources and ideasInspect sources, map concepts, find misconceptions, and turn research into a clearer argument.
Open route