How do i know???

1. How to Find Good Resources How do i know???

2. Just remember CARS • Credibility • Accuracy • Reasonableness • Support

3. Credibility • What about this source makes it believable (or not)? • How does this source know this information? • Why should I believe this source over another? • The key to credibility is the question of trust.

4. Ways to know something is NOT credible… • Anonymity  • Does it say who wrote it? • Lack of Quality Control  • Does it say if someone reviewed the information? • Bad grammar or misspelled words • Most of the time, scholarly people will check their work to make sure it is grammatically correct.

5. How do I know it’s accurate? • The goal of the accuracy test is to assure that the information is: • Correct • Does the information apply to what you are researching? • Up to Date • Was it published within the last ten years? • Factual • Is the information based in fact or opinion? • Detailed • Does the author go into great detail on the topic, or is the article vague?

6. How do I know it’s reasonable? • The test of reasonableness involves examining the information for: • Fairness • Does the author fairly represent the information? Test for facts vs. opinions! • Objectivity • Does the author view the data from an unbiased perspective? • Consistency • Is the information consistent or does it contradict itself?

7. How do I know it’s unreasonable? • Writers who put themselves in the way of the argument, either emotionally or because of self interest, often reveal their lack of reasonableness. • If, for example, you find a writer inserting his or her own opinions about the topic, you know the information may be biased and therefore unreasonable.

8. What is support? • The area of support is concerned with the source of the information. • Much information, especially statistics and facts, come from other sources. • Citing sources strengthens the credibility of the information. • Always look to see where the writer got his or her information!

9. Questions to consider… • Where did this information come from? • What sources did the creator use? • Are the sources listed? • Is there a bibliography or other documentation? • Does the author provide contact information in case you wish to discuss an issue or request further clarification? • How does the writer know about this topic?

10. Recap of CARS • Credibility • Accuracy • Reasonableness • Support • DON’T FORGET TO CITE YOUR OWN SOURCES!!!! • Example: Time for Kids. Solar Storm Hits Earth. By: Stephanie Kraus. January 30, 2012.

11. How to Search for Sources • When searching on Google or other search engines, always use short and simple words or phrases. • Don’t use questions in your search. • Pick out key words or phrases to use instead. • If your search does not yield usable results, try another combination of keywords.

12. Let’s try a few together! • How would we search about the BP oil spill in the Gulf? • What if we wanted to search specifically about how the ecosystem was effected? • How about the government involvement in sanctions against BP?