Week 6-2

Source Workshop

Evaluating Sources

Not all sources are created equal. There are no rules for easily determining which sources are "good," "reliable," "trustworthy," or "credible."

You're going to have to think about it. (Sorry.)

Reorganizing

I'll break you up into four groups. Instead of 1-4, we'll use A-D. (Don't worry. Nothing to do with grades. :P)

Let's Practice. Hypothetical question: how does a positive attitude affect a person's life?

In your groups:

• Read through your source.

  • Group B: focus on the section headed "Self-Helpless"
  • Group C: you don't have to read the whole thing.

• Use the CRAAP test to evaluate your source's currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose.

  (Note: Google is your friend!)

• As a group, decide how trustworthy you think your source is.

Research question: how does a positive attitude affect a person's life?

Intermission

Write a short paragraph explaining your evaluation of the source you've just read.

• Start by introducing your source,
• give a brief, purposeful summary of the writer's ideas, and
• incorporate a quotation from the source.

Conclude your paragraph by explaining how the details you've included support your evaluation of the source.

Let's Move!

Within your groups, count off from 1-5. (You may end up with more than one person for each number; that's okay.)

Now, let's move into new groups based on our numbers. (That way, each group will have at least one member from group A, B, C, and D.)

Share and Discuss

In your new groups, talk about each source in turn (starting with Source A).

Introduce your source to the group, and talk about how and why your previous group evaluated it. (Feel free to use the paragraph you wrote.)

As a group, take a look at each source together. Come up with a ranking, from "most reliable" to "least reliable."

Let's Share Our Rankings

My answers:

1. Source C
2. Source D
3. Source B
4. Source A