SPCH 1315 | Public Speaking

Often you are allowed to use the Internet for some of the sources in your paper.  There's a lot of information out there, so you need to be careful that you are citing valid information. 

Websites should be evaluated based on the criteria below:

• Authority- who made the page and is this person credible?
• Purpose/Intended Audience- why did they make the page and who should read it?
• Currency- is the information up to date?
• Objectivity- is the author unbiased and fair?
• Support- is the information provided cited and factual?

CRAAP is an acronym for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose. Use the CRAAP Test to evaluate your sources.

Currency: the timeliness of the information

• When was the information published or posted?
• Has it been revised or updated?
• Are the links functional?   

Relevance: the importance of the information for your needs

• Who is the intended audience?
• Is the information too simple or advanced for your needs?
• Have you looked at other options??

Authority: the source of the information

• What are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations?
• Is there contact information, such as a publisher or e-mail address?
• Is the URL trustworthy (.gov or .edu)?

Accuracy: the reliability and truthfulness of the source

• Has the information been reviewed?
• Can you verify any of the information in another source?
• Does the language or tone seem biased and free of emotion?

Purpose: the reason the information exists

• What is the purpose of the information? to inform? teach? sell? entertain? persuade?
• Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
• Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases?

• Article Databases

• Catalog: Find Books Here

• Email a Librarian

• San Jacinto College Library