CRAAP critical thinking

Learning Goal: I’m working on a communications question and need the explanation and answer to help me learn.

Instructions:

1. Find two online articles, one that is based on fact and one that is based on opinion. Both articles must be on the same topic.
2. Answer and thoroughly explain at least two questions from each category of CRAAP in your review of each article.

TOPIC: Adoption

CRAAP Questions

Currency (Use two to evaluate your articles)

1. When was the information first published or posted?
2. Has the information been revised or updated? If so, when?
3. Is the information current or out-of-date for your topic? Explain.
4. Are the links functional? Do they link to reliable sites? Explain.
5. Does the website’s copyright date match the content’s currency? Is the website updated more often than the article?

Relevancy (Use two to evaluate your articles)

1. How does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
2. Who is the intended audience? Explain.
3. Is the information at an appropriate level for your needs? Explain how the level of information is, or isn’t, appropriate for your needs (i.e., not too simple or advanced).
4. Would you be comfortable using this source for a college research paper? Why or why not?

Authority (Use two to evaluate your articles)
(look at the site &/or author’s “About� page)

1. Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
2. What are the author’s credentials? (education, work, &/or university faculty)
3. What are the organization’s (website owner/sponsor) credentials? (ex. blog, news organization, professional association, museum, university, individual’s page, etc.). Is there contact information, such as a publisher or e-mail address? If so, what is it?
4. What are the author’s qualifications to write on the topic? Note: a journalist is assigned an article to write and is usually not an expert in the field.
5. Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source? Explain.
   Examples: .com (commercial), .edu (educational), .gov (U.S. government), .org (nonprofit organization), or.net (network)
6. Does the author or website show a bias on the topic? How can you tell?

Accuracy (Use two to evaluate your articles)

1. Is the information supported by evidence? Explain.
2. Has the information been reviewed or peer-reviewed? Explain.
3. Can you verify any of the information in another reliable source? How?
4. Is there a works cited list? Is the list reliable? Are there links, and are they reliable and functional?
5. Does the language or tone seem unbiased and free of emotion? Why or why not?
6. Does the author provide links to sources for data or quotations? Are they reliable and functional?

Purpose (Use two to evaluate your articles)

1. What is the purpose of the information? Is it to inform, teach, sell, entertain or persuade? (ex. information, advice, advocacy, propaganda, opinion, entertainment, commercial site, personal, news, educational site) Explain.
2. Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear? What is the point of view of the author/site? Is it fair and objective? Is it an advocacy site? Is the page associated with an organization that has a particular political or social agenda? Explain.
3. Is the information fact, opinion, or propaganda? Explain how you came to that conclusion.
4. Does the point of view appear objective and impartial? Does the author/website owner stand to benefit from the information being provided? Ex. making money off of the site.
5. Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases? Explain.