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STUDENT GUIDE
Unlock the Truth: Why Evaluating Sources Matters
In an age of instant information, the ability to judge what's real and what's fake is a superpower. Whether you're researching for a history paper or scrolling through your feed, critical thinking or 'information literacy' helps you navigate the digital noise with confidence. This guide will give you the tools to filter out the nonsense and find the facts that actually matter for your school work and your life online.
The CRAAP Test
Use these five criteria to evaluate any source you find. If it doesn't pass the test, don't use it in your project!
Currency
When was this published?
- Is the information up-to-date for your topic?
- Has it been revised or updated?
- Do the links still work?
Relevance
Does this info relate to your topic?
- Does it answer your research question?
- Is it for middle/high school level?
- Did you look at other sources first?
Authority
Who is the author or creator?
- What makes them an expert?
- What is their reputation?
- Is there contact info available?
Accuracy
Is the information true and reliable?
- Can you find the same info elsewhere?
- Are there spelling or grammar errors?
- Does the author provide evidence?
Purpose
Why does this information exist?
- Is it to teach, sell, or entertain?
- Is it biased or one-sided?
- Is the author trying to change your mind?
Master Lateral Reading
The best way to verify a site is to leave the site. Lateral reading means opening new tabs to see what other trusted sources say about the information you just found.
1. Search the Source Name
Open a new tab and search for the organization or author. What do Wikipedia or major news outlets say about their reputation?
2. Verify the Claims
Search for the main 'facts' of the article. Are other reliable websites reporting the same story, or is it only on this one site?
3. Check the Context
Look for the original source of any data or quotes. Sometimes information is taken out of context to make it seem more shocking than it is.
Put Your Skills to the Test
Scenario 1
You find a viral post claiming a major celebrity just donated $10 million to a specific charity, but the source is an account called '@RealNews_1234' with no profile picture. How would you evaluate this?
Scenario 2
You're researching climate change for a science project and find a blog post that's extremely detailed, but it was written in 2008 and hasn't been updated since. How would you evaluate this?
In PROGRESS
Scenario 3
A website about the 'perfect diet' is filled with scientific-sounding words but also has five different 'Buy Now' buttons for their branded vitamin supplements. How would you evaluate this?