EVALUATING SOURCE MATERIALS• Both print and electronic • Criteria to consider

Notes

• Record key ideas and phrases• Must be in own words to get full points• Be able to teach shoulder partner what learned

Authority• Print material = non-fiction vs. fiction

• Textbooks• Encyclopedias• Biographies• Non-fiction books on the topic

• Author / editors = experts in field• Education in the field• Works in the field

• Citizens expressing an opinion• Bloggers • Editorials

Soooo what about Wikipedia?

• General information = yes• Increase your knowledge base• Gather basic info about topic

• Citing as a source = no• Expertise of author not verifiable

• Sometimes too much opinion

Reliability• Information = Check for sources

• Biography• List of Sources

• Information = verifiable in other sources• See repeated in other sources

Objectivity

• Free from bias/opinion• Who is intended audience?• What is intended purpose?

Relevancy• On topic• Too general or too specific for your purposes• Current and timely information vs. out of date

Now it’s your turn to evaluate…

• Print sources

• Website sources • http://www.kraftbrands.com/oscarmayer/hot-dogs/index.html• http://

www.huffingtonpost.com/leslie-hatfield/all-about-hot-dogs_b_1643454.html

• http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2010/02/hot-dogs-under-fire-doctors-push-for-stronger-labeling/index.htm

• http://zapatopi.net/treeoctopus/• http://

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1352929/Endangered-tree-octopus-proves-students-believe-read-Internet.html

Graphics Sources

• peoplelearn.homestead.com• shop.nationalgeographic.com• digitaltrends.com• wikipedia.com• paidcontent.org• sodahead.com• fortunetecknolog.com

Time for Reflection