Week 12 - Evaluating & Citing Sources
Overview
This week we continue to search for quality sources for the researched deliberative argument. The assignment requires you to find at least six good sources, which means you probably need to find 20 sources at first and then narrow down.
Good sources do not necessarily mean sources that totally agree with you. In fact, identifying the significant contrasting points of view is an important part of the research. We started doing that with the analyzing the source of disagreement activity with the Pro/Con sections of the CQ Researcher a couple weeks ago.
Good sources do not necessarily mean sources that totally agree with you. In fact, identifying the significant contrasting points of view is an important part of the research. We started doing that with the analyzing the source of disagreement activity with the Pro/Con sections of the CQ Researcher a couple weeks ago.
Evaluating Sources with CRAAP
The assignment requires you to use at least some sources from academic databases. But you may also use sources from sites on the web. In either case, you must evaluate their credibility and usefulness for your project.
We are going to use a set of criteria for evaluation called CRAAP, an acronym that stands for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose or Point of view. The acronym is designed to help you remember the criteria.
The activities for this week are designed to help you become familiar with these criteria and use them to evaluate your sources. |
Quoting and Citing Sources
As you learned last week, there are two parts to all citation systems (whether they are APA, MLA, or Chicago).
One part is the list of references at the end. These are called Works Cited (in MLA), References (in APA), or Bibliography (in Chicago). Although the format details differ in each, they are all the same in crucial ways:
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The other part is the parenthetical citation in the text. There you include the least amount of information necessary to point the reader to the correct item in the list at the end.
In this example, I show a parenthetical in-text citation plus entry in both APA and MLA. This example demonstrates the basic principles of documentation--which requires a parenthetical in-text citation identifying the source, and then the full details about the source in the entry in the list at the end.
You do not need to memorize the details. You just need a good source with the rules. I recommend Purdue OWL or Excelsior OWL. |
Reading & Resources
- Watch these three videos explaining and demonstrating the CRAAP test. (The 2nd and 3rd ones, from Portland State, use only one "A" in the acronym, but they still talk about both Authority and Accuracy.)
2. Read the material about evaluating sources and websites at
3. Select and bookmark your reference guide to a documentation format. Here are some possibilities:
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Activities
- Online only: Participate in a check-in Tuesday discussion in Bb. I will be asking you to apply the CRAAP test to two of your sources.
- Both sections: Submit an in-process draft of the argument as a Google Doc to Dr. Matson by Sunday, April 21, 2019. Include a cover memo to Dr. Matson and your peer group explaining the rhetorical context you envision and also discussing what you would like feedback on. I will create groups later in the week.