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Global II: Holocaust Research: Source Evaluation

Determine if a source is right for your assignment

When choosing sources to include in your paper, you are looking for sources that:

  • Support your argument
  • Provide background information on your topic
  • Provide contrary views you can take issue with in your paper
  • Have reliable statistical data, time lines, and other information

Don't worry if you don't initially find the sources or answers you expect to find--it takes time and patience.

Taken from Determine if you have the right source for your assignment from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign University Library.

Evaluating Resources Using the CRAAP Method

Criteria

Questions to Ask


urrency
  • When was the source written and published?
  • Has the information been updated recently?
  • Is currency pertinent to your research?


elevance
  • Does the source cover your research topic comprehensively or only cover one aspect?
  • To what extent does the source answer your research question?
  • Is the source considered popular or scholarly?
  • Is the terminology and language used easy to understand?
  • Does the source meet the requirements of your research assignment?


uthority
  • Who is the author (person, company, or organization)?
  • Does the source provide any information that leads you to believe the author is credible or an expert on the topic?
  • Can you describe the author's background (experience, education, knowledge)?
  • Does the author provide citations? Do you think they are reputable?


ccuracy
  • Can facts or statistics be verified through another source?
  • Based on your knowledge, does the information seem accurate? Does it match the information found in other sources?
  • Are there spelling or grammatical errors?


urpose
  • What is the purpose or motive for the source (educational, commercial, entertainment, promotional, etc.)?
  • Who is the intended audience?
  • Is the author pretending to be objective, but really trying to persuade, promote or sell something?
  • Does the source seem biased?