Suitable for grades 9 - 12.

1. Websites, Social Media, Blogs,
Wiki’s, Video’s, & Databases

3.  Not everything on the internet is true.
 Google search results pull up the most
popular sites, not the most reliable.
 Anyone can create a website or an online
book.
 Many “authentic-looking” sites are trying to
sell you something or persuade you to take a
position on an issue.

4.  Take the CRAAP test!!

5.  When was the information published,
posted, updated or revised?
 Are the links still functional?
 Does your topic require the most current
information or is the research historical?

6.  Does the info relate closely to your topic?
 Is the coverage comprehensive, too much or
too little?
 Who is the intended audience (children, adults,
scholars, specialist in the field)?
 Have you compared other, possibly better
sources?

7.  Who is the author, publisher, or sponsor?
 What are the author’s or organization’s
credentials (“About Us”)?
 Is there contact information?
 What does the URL reveal about a website
(.com, .edu, .gov, .org)?

8. Detective Joe Friday from Dragnet television
series of 1950’s

9.  Facts or personal opinion (biased)? Even
experts in a field can be biased.
 Could info be taken out of context?
 Evidence/sources to verify information?
 Personal webpage or organization?
 Self published book or known publisher?

10.  To inform?
 Teach?
 Sell?
 Entertain?
 Persuade? (political, cultural, religious, etc.)

12.  Is this information accurate or is it based
on opinion?
 What is the purpose of a website like this?

13.  No Author = No Authority!

14. “Wikipedia is not a reliable source. It is
instead a tertiary source like other
encyclopedias. It usually uses reliable
secondary sources, which vet data from
primary sources.”
 Author is unknown. Information can be
added, revised or edited by almost anyone.
Check the bibliographic links at the bottom
of the page for reliable sources.

15.  Not authoritative. These are community
forums – shared opinions & experiences.

16.  Google, Bing, Yahoo - not always reliable
 GoogleBooks – only some books available
 GoogleScholar - highly academic
 Google News – good for current news
 SweetSearch – rocks!

17.  Evaluate with the CRAAP text.
 Does the source come from a reputable author
or publisher?
 Could the images /videos be digitally altered?
 Misinformation is spread quickly! Read the
article before you share it.

18.  Provide citation
 Provide links to primary and secondary
sources in various formats
 Easy to print or send article
 Built in dictionary
 Translation to other languages

19.  Or ask your teacher!

20.  “Evaluating web resources - The CRAAP test” North Carolina A& T State University
Library. 7 Nov. 2013. Web.
http://libguides.library.ncat.edu/content.php?pid=53820&sid=394505
 Evaluating Websites. Dir. Gulf Coast State College Library. Evaluating Websites. Gulf Coast
State College, 12 Feb. 2013. Web.
 Fitzgerald, James. “Cap 233 Evaluating Info” 23 April 2013. Slideshare.net. 8 Nov. 2013
Web. http://www.slideshare.net/fitzjustright/cap-233-evaluating-info
 Glenbard Apps. Evaluating Sources. Digital image. Research Help. Google Sites, n.d. Web.
 Nickarama. "Tim Kaine's Reason for Voting Against Gorsuch Reveals Everything That's
Wrong with the Democrat Party..." Young Conservatives. Young Conservatives, 30 Mar.
2017. Web. 29 May 2017.
 21st Century Tech Blog. Joe Friday "Just the Facts". Digital image. 21stcentech.com. 21st
Century Tech Blog, 11 Mar. 2017. Web.
 “Wikipedia: Wikipedia is not a reliable source.” Wikipedia.org. 20 November 2013
Wikiipedia Foundation. 7 Nov. 2013. Web.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikipedia_is_not_a_reliable_source