engl112-----Annotated Bibliography #1----500 words
moernn91
evaluatingsources2.pptWhy Evaluate Sources?
- When you use information sources in your work, they should be credible and appropriate for your needs.
- The following criteria provide guidelines for systematically evaluating sources.
- Different criteria will be more or less important depending on your situation or need.
Criteria for Evaluating Sources
- Currency
- Relevance
- Authority
- Accuracy
- Purpose
The CRAAP test is adapted from the Meriam Library at California State University Chico.
*
Currency:
Timeliness of Info
- When was the information published or posted?
- Has the information been revised or updated?
- Is the information current or out-of date for your topic?
- Web sites: are the links functional?
- If there is a reference list, does it include up-to-date sources?
*
Currency
Relevance:
The Importance of the Info to Your Needs
- Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
- Who is the intended audience?
- Is the information at an appropriate level (i.e. not too elementary or advanced for your needs)?
- Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this is one you will use?
*
Relevance
What audience might find this web site relevant? http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/autism/DS00348/
Authority:
Who is the Source of the Info?
- Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
- Are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations given? If yes, what are they?
- What are the author's qualifications to write on the topic?
- Is there contact information, such as an address, publisher or institution?
- Web sites: does the URL reveal anything about the author or source? examples: .com .edu .gov .org .net
(See http://scc.losrios.edu/~library/tutorials/c/URLs/TLDs / for an explanation.)
*
Authority
Accuracy:
How Reliable, Truthful, or Correct is this Info?
- Where does the information come from?
- Is the information supported by evidence?
- Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
- Can you verify any of the information in another source or from personal knowledge?
- Does the language or tone seem biased or free of emotion?
- Are there spelling, grammar, or other typographical errors?
*
Accuracy
Is information supported by evidence?
Purpose:
Why does the information exist?
- What is the purpose of the information? to inform? teach? sell? entertain? persuade?
- Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?
- Is the information fact? opinion? propaganda?
- Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
- Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases?
*
Purpose
What is the purpose of most .com websites?
Criteria for Evaluating Sources
- Currency
- Relevance
- Authority
- Accuracy
- Purpose
The CRAAP test is adapted from the Meriam Library at California State University Chico.
*
Practice Time!
- Go to these two web sites about depression:
- www.depression.com
- www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/complete-index.shtml
- Take about 10 minutes and evaluate both sites.
- Note your evaluations on the worksheet, including:
- your answers to the CRAAP questions
- the evidence that supports your evaluation
- For this exercise, skip relevance, since this criteria only applies when you have a particular use for the resource.
*
Evaluating Sources—
Taking it on the Road
- What did you learn that built upon what you already know about evaluating sources?
- How might you use some of these strategies to ensure that in the future, you evaluate sources effectively?
*
