Transcript Welcome to Resurrection Library

How to…
Critically Evaluate
Information Resources!
Today’s Learning Goals…
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By the end of the period, I will have:
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created a properly formatted Annotated
Works Cited with three different types of
resources
written a critical annotation for one web site
provided Ms. Martin with my topic and a list
of the searches I’ve tried
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Focus
Explore
Analyze
Select a topic of interest
and ask real questions.
Find the resources you need…
and keep track of where you
found them!
Interpret, evaluate, and sort
the information you find.
What interests me?
What am I curious
about?
What kind of resources
will help me?
What do I already know
about my topic?
Have I consulted a
variety of sources?
How do I know this?
What do I need to verify?
Who is responsible for
the information?
What new information
do I need to find?
Did I record all the
relevant information and
where I found it?
What do I think I might
discover?
REFLECT: What other
information do I still
need?
Analyzing what you find…
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Analyze
Interpret, evaluate, and sort
the information you find.
Do my sources pass the CRAAP test?
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i.e. are they worth including in my research
How is the info relevant to my question?
What patterns have I noticed? How does
the info relate to what else I know?
What conclusions can I draw based on
what I’ve found?
REFLECT: Does the info I found raise
more questions?
Remember…
Not every source
of information is
a GOOD source
of information!
To evaluate the information
sources you find (Web sites,
books, etc.), ask yourself…
Are they
CRAAP?!
C
R
A
A
Purpose/Point of View
urrency
elevance
uthority
ccuracy
Currency ~ is the information
current (enough)?
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When was the information published or posted?
Has it been revised or updated
(should it have been)?
Does your topic require current information or will
older sources still work?
Are the links (web site) or other recommended
additional sources (listed in books) valid/available?
Relevance ~ does it meet YOUR
research needs?
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Does the information relate to your topic
or answer your question?
Who is the intended audience?
(i.e. is it you/someone like you?)
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?
Authority ~ who is the source
of the information?
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Who wrote/created the book, article, or Web
site?
What education/credentials/experience do they
have?
Are they experts in their field (i.e. are they
qualified to write about your topic)?
Is there contact information, such as a publisher
or email address?
For web sources, does the URL reveal anything
about the author or source?
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examples: .com .ca .edu .gov .org .net
Accuracy ~ how reliable, correct,
and factual is the content
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Where is the creator/author getting the
information?
Is the information they’ve given supported by
evidence?
Are the sources of information clearly listed so they
can be verified; are they only the author’s opinions?
Has the information been reviewed or refereed? (i.e.
formally published vs. personally posted)
Do the facts presented match those from other
similar sources you’ve found?
Purpose/Point of View
~ why does the information exist?
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Why was the resource created?
Is the book or Web site intended to
inform/sell/teach/entertain/persuade?
Did someone sponsor or commission the source?
Does this sponsor influence the views presented?
Is the information fact, opinion or propaganda?
Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious,
institutional or personal biases?
If the resource passes the
CRAAP test, you’re well on
your way to research
success!
1
2
3
4
Focus
Explore
Select a topic of interest
and ask real questions.
Find the resources you need…
and keep track of where you
found them!
Analyze
Communicate
Interpret, evaluate, and sort
the information you find.
Report what you find. Give
credit where credit is due.
What interests me?
What am I curious
about?
What kind of resources
will help me?
Do my sources pass the
CRAAP test?
What do I already know
about my topic?
Have I consulted a
variety of sources?
How is the info relevant
to my question?
How do I know this?
What do I need to verify?
Who is responsible for
the information?
What patterns have I
noticed? How does the info
relate to what else
I know?
What new information
do I need to find?
Did I record all the
relevant information and
where I found it?
What conclusions can I
draw based on what I’ve
found?
What do I think I might
discover?
REFLECT: What other
information do I still
need?
REFLECT: Does the info
I found raise more
questions?
How to approach this
assignment…
1. Find a source/choose one you’ve found.
2. Create a citation – use the Citation
Maker (on your assignments page!)
3. Find your next source…remember, you
need 3 different kinds of sources!
4. Apply the CRAAP test to the web site.
Using all 5 criteria, describe why it
passes (or fails) the CRAAP test.
Success Criteria
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List of searches you tried? Difficulties?
(attach ticket)
APA format?
Alphabetical order?
Hanging indents?
3 types of resources?
Detailed CRAAP test for web site?
Link to YOUR project?
sample annotated works cited…
Questions…?