1. Evaluating Sources Using the CARS Checklist
Critical Reading
Evaluating Sources Using the CARS Checklist

2. Sometimes it’s obvious…
An important part of critical reading is evaluating whether or not your source is credible.
Sometimes it’s obvious…
Aluminum Foil Deflector Beanies
Even though it is a nice looking website at first glance, it is obvious that you would not use this information as a credible source for anything serious.

3. Sometimes not so obvious…
Credible or not????
At first glance this website looks legitimate. However, upon further exploration, there is some questionable information….
Sometimes not so obvious…
All About Explorers

4. Critical Thinking
A blind girl “saw” the flash of the first atomic bomb.
True and false elements
Consumers need to be cautious that water boiled in a microwave oven can suddenly “explode”.
True
A special compound added to the water in swimming pools can reveal the presence of urine.
False
The Great Wall of China is the only man-made object visible from the moon.
It takes more muscles to frown than to smile.
Undetermined
Source: Snopes.com
Your job as a critical thinker is to consider what you read and hear in your personal, work, and school life and to determine what is credible and what is not.
Test your critical thinking skills on some common “knowledge”:

5. CARS Checklist: A tool for Evaluating What you Read
It is impossible to complete verify everything that you read, and even reliable sources of information will not always pass all these tests, but critical thinkers are in the habit of evaluating what they read and hear.
Credibility: author, association, qualification, contact info
Accuracy: date, purpose and audience, completeness and balance,
Reasonableness: fair, objective, unbiased, no logical fallacies
Support: is there evidence and documentation to back up claims

6. Snopes
Practice: Use the CARS checklist to evaluate the following website. Give an overall scores of 0-4 for each area then pick an area that seems weakest (if there is one).
Snopes.com
Credibility _____
Accuracy _____
Reasonableness _____
Support _____