Today we’re going to talk about resources that you definitely know how to find… Websites Have them name some things, make a list on the board of why they think it’s important to evaluate websites, or what sort of criteria you need to be looking for. The other thing to remember is that once you become skilled at evaluating Internet resources, you will become better at evaluating other types of sources (library resources, etc.)

Take out some paper--write down some notes about the following questions: Why is it important to evaluate websites? What do you look for in a “good” website? What would make you think a website was untrustworthy? Have them name some things, make a list on the board of why they think it’s important to evaluate websites, or what sort of criteria you need to be looking for. The other thing to remember is that once you become skilled at evaluating Internet resources, you will become better at evaluating other types of sources (library resources, etc.)

“Good” Websites “Bad” Websites

How to Evaluate Internet Resources Currency Relevance Authority Accuracy Purpose So now that we all agree that it’s a good idea to evaluate websites, let’s talk about HOW to do this. There are lots of different guides online or cute little acronyms for remembering the different components of evaluating websites, but this is my favorite, mostly because it’s easy to remember and covers the most important areas. CRAAP Test Let’s talk about what each of these means:

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 Is the information current or out-of date for your topic? Are the links functional? Currency: 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 Is the information current or out-of date for your topic? Are the links functional?

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 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?

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 a publisher or e-mail address? Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source? examples: .com .edu .gov .org .net Authority 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 a publisher or e-mail address? Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source? examples: .com .edu .gov .org .net

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 and free of emotion? Are there spelling, grammar, or other typographical errors? Accuracy 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 and free of emotion? Are there spelling, grammar, or other typographical errors?

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 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?

Wikipedia: Why do your instructors say NO? Articles may be heavily biased, incomplete, or vandalized. May contain obvious oversights or omissions. Many contributors do not cite their sources. Bibliographies are frequently incomplete or out-of-date. Credentials of authors vary. Continually edited - >100,000 edits/day. Can propagate misinformation.

Wikipedia: How to use it as a tool Useful for background information. Contains many viable links and references. Excels in topics on current events, popular culture, emerging technology, and obscure subjects. Don’t CITE it! Cite sources it links to, if you find them to be credible, accurate, useful, etc. I usually use the entry for Sesame Street on wikipedia as a really good example of an entry with a lot of good references and external links, etc. If you know of another entry like this off hand, feel free to use that. It really doesn’t matter—the point is just to reinforce that it should be used to find out more info about a topic, but not something you’d want to cite. I usually tell them that the main reason I wouldn’t cite it is that it’s dynamic—so if someone went back to look at what you cited, it might be different when they look at the entry.

Let’s try it out… http://guides.emich.edu/ENGL121 Go to the following research guide: http://guides.emich.edu/ENGL121 Click on “Handouts and Activities” Take a look at the two sites in the box that says “Websites for Evaluation Activity” and fill out the CRAAP test worksheet You DO NOT NEED TO ANSWER EVERY QUESTION on the CRAAP Test guide—use those questions to guide you to notice things in each category and jot down notes.

Group Up!… Currency : Group 1 Authority: Group 2 Accuracy: Group 3 Purpose: Group 4 Once in your group, spend about 5 minutes coming up with a list of the TOP THREE things you noticed in your category for each website and be prepared to report out on these items!