Southern New Hampshire University
ENG-123 English Composition II
C.R.A.A.P.O. MODEL
This model is used to determine how credible a source is.
Category 1: Currency
When was the source published?
Has the information been revised or updated since?
Is the information current or out-of-date?
Scoring Notes:
0-3: The information in the source is no longer fully accepted by professionals in the field; the
information is no longer accurate today; the information is old enough that it is no longer
convincing (especially the statistics and the financial data). If the source is in a rapidly changing
field (technology, medicine, etc.), the source was published more than ten years ago.
4-6: The theoretical content of the source is still accurate, but the statistics or financial data are
no longer relevant or updated enough to be convincing. If the source is in a rapidly changing
field (technology, medicine, etc.), the source was published within the last six to ten years. There
have been significant changes in the field since the source was published.
7-10: The information in the source is still accepted by professionals in the field; the information
is still accurate today; the information is recent enough to still be relevant (especially the
statistics and the financial data). If the source is in a rapidly changing field (technology,
medicine, etc.), the source was published within the last five years.
Category 2: Relevance
Professionals in the field still accept the information in the source; the information is still
accurate today; the information is recent enough to still be relevant (especially statistics and
financial data). If the source is in a rapidly changing field (technology, medicine, etc.), the source
was published within the last five years.
• Does the information relate to your project?
• Have you looked at a variety of other sources? Do other sources meet your needs more
effectively?
• Who is the intended audience of the source?
Scoring Notes:
0–3: The source is on the general topic but does not directly support any key points. The source
is written for an audience that is not relevant to this assignment (for example, it is written for
elementary school students or people in another country).
4–6: The source indirectly supports a key point and may include one or two helpful pieces of
evidence. The source is written for an audience that is partly relevant to this assignment but is
seeking different information than your audience or has differing levels of knowledge.
7–10: The source directly supports a key point and includes specific pieces of evidence that can
be used in the essay. The source is written for an audience that is relevant to this assignment.
Category 3: Accuracy
• Do evidence and references support the information?
• Has the information been peer-reviewed?
• Is the source professional in appearance and free of errors?
Scoring Notes:
0–3: The source includes no sources or poor sources (blogs, Wikis, etc.). Citations are missing or
are confusing. The source includes citation errors. The grammar, spelling, or punctuation are
confusing or inconsistent. The source is not formatted professionally and/or contains
advertisements.
4–6: The source cites evidence from popular sources (newspapers, organization’s websites, etc.).
Citations are present. The source is easy to read and has a neat appearance.
7–10: The source cites evidence from peer-reviewed sources. The source includes enough
evidence to support its main points. The source uses a formal documentation style accurately.
Grammar, punctuation, spelling, and citation conventions are adhered to.
Category 4: Authority
• Who is the author?
• What are the author’s credentials or organizational affiliations?
• Does a reputable organization publish the source?
Scoring Notes:
0–3: No author is listed, or the author has little knowledge on the topic. The source is published
by an unknown or questionable organization (one that is known to hold a bias; one that is known
for inaccurate information, etc.).
4–6: The author is listed and has some knowledge of the topic, but the author is not an expert in
the field. A reputable organization or institution published the source.
7–10: The author is an expert in the field. The source is published in a scholarly publication that
has undergone the peer-review process.
Category 5: Purpose and Objectivity
• What is the author’s purpose? To inform? Persuade? Entertain?
• Is the information fact or opinion?
• Does the point of view seem to be objective or biased?
Scoring Notes:
0–3: The author’s purpose is to entertain. The author’s purpose is irrelevant to your purposes (for
example, they explain a process, and you need data to help convince readers). The information
presented includes only opinions. The author does not consider multiple viewpoints. The author
has an underlying agenda.
4–6: The author’s purpose may be to inform or to persuade. The author includes some facts and
evidence but relies heavily on opinion. The author does not have overt biases, but some implicit
biases are detected. Multiple viewpoints are considered but not thoroughly, fairly, and
accurately.
7–10: The author’s purpose may be to inform or to persuade. The author relies on logic, facts,
and evidence and writes from an objective viewpoint. The author has no detectable biases. The
author considers multiple viewpoints fairly and accurately.
TOTAL SCORE:
Understanding Your Score:
Below 30: Unacceptable
30–34: Questionable
35–39: Average
40–44: Good
45–50: Excellent
