BEAM Method
Developed by Joseph Bizup, the BEAM method encourages you to think about sources in terms of the function rather than common features. It asks students to think about how writers use sources in writing. You might have had discussions about the differences in scholarly, academic articles vs. popular magazine or newspaper articles; but the reality is, depending on your research, you might need to use a combination of sources to articulate your arguments.
BEAM describes 4 ways that sources can be used. Students can be asked to try to use sources in each of the 4 ways, but requirements can be adjusted depending on the purpose of a particular writing assignment.
B: Background Source - These are sources used to establish common ground with the reader, provide context, and for background information such as basic facts and general information.
E: Exhibit Source - Used for analysis or to provide evidence. These sources may be used to provide examples to back up an argument, or may be presented and analyzed. May take the form of data, an image for analysis, quotations.
A: Argument Source - Used when the writer engages in the ideas or claims of a source as part of an argument. Writers may use these sources to affirm, refute or refine an argument.
M: Method Source - Offers a model, definitions or perspective for understanding an argument. Often takes the form of a particular school of thought, for example, applying a Marxist literary criticism to an interpretation of a work.
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The SIFT Method
The SIFT Method is another framework to help you quickly evaluate and fact-check claims. It was developed by Mike Caulfield, research scientist at the University of Washington's Center for an Informed Public, as a way to combat misinformation and build digital media literacy. 
SIFT stands for:
Stop: take a moment to stop and reflect on what it is you are looking at or reading. Do you know the creator? Do you trust where it is coming from? The first step is to stop and think.
Investigate the Source: Figure out where the source is, do you know who created the source?
Find Better Coverage: Can the claim that the source is making be verified elsewhere? See if you can find more information from a source that you feel is well researched or one that is highly regarded and verified.
Trace Claims, Quotes, and Media to the Original Context: trace the claim, quote, or media back to the source, so you can see it in its original context and get a sense if the version you saw was accurately presented.
To learn more about the SIFT Method, you can hear from Mike Caulfield about why he created it and also check out the self-paced course.
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The SIFT Method portion of this guide was adapted from "Check, Please!" (Caulfield). The canonical version of Check, Please! exists at http://lessons.checkplease.cc (CC-BY).