1. Research skills Source evaluation
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Research skills
Source evaluation
Please emphasise that this is an introductory lesson and that all of the components will be discussed in much more detail later in the course.

2. By the end of the lesson you will be able to:
Search for sources
evaluate sources using relevant criteria
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3. Why do research?
important activity in any study  develop your learning and knowledge
Uni: expectation that what you create has not come entirely from ideas in your head.
Use sources:
to provide background information
to support your arguments
as evidence or to give a fuller explanation
If used properly they will improve the quality of your work, showing that you are aware of the wider context you are writing in and that you understand the depth and complexity of academic study.

4. How to read?
Read closely and carefully to understand specific information.
However  not every word in every book or journal.
Learn reading techniques to quickly assess material, decide if it is useful and, if so, which parts need to be read more carefully.

5. Skimming & Scanning DETAILS ABOUT THE AUTHOR OR AUTHORS
TITLE (plus maybe a subtitle)
PREFACE, FOREWORD, INTRODUCTION or ABSTRACT
These come at the beginning and explain the purpose and organisation of the book along with any features you should especially notice. Read it carefully. The author is explaining how to get the most out of the book.
TABLE OF CONTENTS, INDEX & BLURB
This gives an overall view of the material in the book. Looking at this is a quick and easy way to see if the book includes information you need.

6. Questions Why do you need to do any research?
How do you find specific information using library catalogues and internet search engines?
Which types of sources would be most useful if…
You have no idea about a particular subject.
You want specifically academic information about a topic.
You have a good understanding of the topic and want to deepen your understanding.
You are tired / bored of reading and want a change. 

7. Imagine that you have to write an essay
on the following topic.
discuss areas you should research
what types of sources would you use in this essay?
The legal minimum age for purchasing alcohol should be twenty-one rather than eighteen. Discuss.
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8. Discuss. Why should you evaluate sources?
What do you need to take under consideration when evaluating sources?
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9. Watch the video and take notes
Watch the video and take notes. Use abbreviations and symbols where appropriate.
Now, compare your notes in pairs and answer the following questions:
What does ”CRAAP” stand for?
What questions should
your answer at each stage
of the source evaluation process?
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10. C for… CURRENCY When was it published / updated?
Is information out of date for the topic?
How recent is the data that the text presents?
If the text is not recent, is this important?
Has anything happened since it was written (for example, new theories, economic crisis)?
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11. R for…
Relevance
Is the information related and relevant to your topic?
How does the text relate to your research topic – does it provide background information, support for an argument, relevant data / details about the issue?
Does it provide superficial treatment, or a detailed analysis?
Is the readership level appropriate, neither too simple nor too sophisticated?
How does this text relate to what you already know?
What information have you gained from the text?
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12. A for… Authority Who are the authors and/or editors?
Where do they work?
Have they published other works on this topic?
Is the writer an expert or well-known in this field?
Are they widely cited by others in the field?
For journals, are the articles peer reviewed, i.e. do they have the approval of other experts in the field?
For books, are they published by scholarly presses, popular presses or self- published?
What website posted the article?
Is the article from a peer-reviewed journal?
What organisation does the website represent?
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13. A for… ACCURACY Does the source match your understanding of the topic?
Can you verify claims in other sources?
Is the information supported by evidence?
Is there a bibliography or list of works cited?
What types of sources and how many relevant sources are cited?
Are ideas supported by references to other writers?
Is the content fact or opinion?
Does the language or tone seem unbiased and free of emotion?
Are there spelling, grammar or typographical errors?
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14. P for…
PURPOSE
Is the purpose stated? Is it to inform, teach, sell, entertain or persuade?
Is the subject approached from an objective standpoint? If not, what is the author’s bias and how might it influence the information presented?
Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional or personal biases?
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15. In groups, skim through the distributed texts and apply the CRAAP test.
Imagine the aim of your research is to prepare to write the following essay:
The legal minimum age for purchasing alcohol should be twenty-one rather than eighteen. Discuss.
Choose different texts – each group may analyse a different text and then report to the rest of the group. You may bring – Metro, English course books, students’ subject books etc.
You may distribute the handout with guiding questions at this point – see ”the CRAAP Test’
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18. References
Gilett, A., Hammond A., Martala M., Successful Academic Writing, Pearson Longman, 2009
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