Evaluating Sources

  
After you find a credible source that can be used for your persuasive essay, identify it in the textbox below (don’t worry about formatting right now—we’ll discuss APA/MLA later on this term). Then, explain how the source fared with the C.R.A.A.P test by answering the following questions in one fully developed paragraph:

What were the      total points the source earned on the test?
Where did it      earn the most amount of points? How did it earn these points? 
Where did it      earn the least amount of points? Why did it lose points here?
Ultimately,      how will this source help support the main argument (or counterargument)      of your essay?

Submission: Annotating Your Sources
You’ll create a bibliography entry by following the steps below and answering the questions as thoroughly as possible. The questions will prompt you to engage in a conversation with your sources. You will need to complete this activity three times (for your three different sources).
A few reminders:

You      may find one source on the Internet, but the remainder of your sources      must come from a Shapiro Library database. You may wish to consider either      the Opposing      Viewpoints database or      the Academic      Search Ultimate database.

When       identifying your sources, make sure to include the title, author(s), and       the name of the database or website.

At      least one of your three sources should present a counterargument*,      a position an opponent of your argument might make.
Be      sure to test all of your sources using the C.R.A.A.P. method.
This      assignment requires three sources. Please note that your essay will      require at least foursources.

Constructing Your Annotations
As you work on your annotations, remember to refer to the assignment guidelines and rubric (click here) to make sure you’re fulfilling each aspect of the assignment. You can also download/print the rubric. 
Your responses will be saved to the Notebook, which can be found under the “Course Tools” menu. You can also download all of your responses to a single Word document by following the directions at the bottom of this page.
SOURCE 1
Step 1: Select a source from either the Opposing Viewpoints database or the Academic Search Ultimate database.
Step 2: Apply the C.R.A.A.P test to the source to determine if it is credible and reliable. Click here to download a copy of The C.R.A.A.P. Test Worksheet. Remember, credible sources should score 35 points or more on the test.

Step 3: Identify your source in the box below.
Step 4: Fill in the blanks below to generate the summary portion of your bibliography entry. Type the completed sentences into the textboxes.
It seems this source is arguing ____________________.
This source is using this evidence to support that argument: ____________________.
Step 5: Fill in the blank below to generate the credibility portion of your bibliography entry. Type the completed sentence into the textbox.
Personally, I believe (the source is doing a good job/bad job of supporting its arguments and why) ____________________.
Step 6: Fill in the blanks below to generate the relevance portion of your bibliography entry. Type the completed sentences into the textboxes.
My problem is ________________________.
This is my intended argument: ________________________.
I think this source will be very helpful in supporting my argument because ________________________.
I think this source will support my other sources because ________________________.
SOURCE 2
Step 1: Select a source from either the Opposing Viewpoints database or the Academic Search Ultimate database.
Step 2: Apply the C.R.A.A.P test to the source to determine if it is credible and reliable. Click here to download a copy of The C.R.A.A.P. Test Worksheet. Remember, credible sources should score 35 points or more on the test.

Step 3: Identify your source in the box below.
Step 4: Fill in the blanks below to generate the summary portion of your bibliography entry. Type the completed sentences into the textboxes.
It seems this source is arguing ____________________.
This source is using this evidence to support that argument: ____________________.
Step 5: Fill in the blank below to generate the credibility portion of your bibliography entry. Type the completed sentence into the textbox.
Personally, I believe (the source is doing a good job/bad job of supporting its arguments and why) ____________________.
Step 6: Fill in the blanks below to generate the relevance portion of your bibliography entry. Type the completed sentences into the textboxes.
My problem is ________________________.
This is my intended argument: ________________________.
I think this source will be very helpful in supporting my argument because ________________________.
I think this source will support my other sources because ________________________.
SOURCES 3
Step 1: Select a source from either the Opposing Viewpoints database or the Academic Search Ultimate database.
Step 2: Apply the C.R.A.A.P test to the source to determine if it is credible and reliable. Click here to download a copy of The C.R.A.A.P. Test Worksheet. Remember, credible sources should score 35 points or more on the test.

Step 3: Identify your source in the box below.
Step 4: Fill in the blanks below to generate the summary portion of your bibliography entry. Type the completed sentences into the textboxes.
It seems this source is arguing ____________________.
This source is using this evidence to support that argument: ____________________.
Step 5: Fill in the blank below to generate the credibility portion of your bibliography entry. Type the completed sentence into the textbox.
Personally, I believe (the source is doing a good job/bad job of supporting its arguments and why) ____________________.
Step 6: Fill in the blanks below to generate the relevance portion of your bibliography entry. Type the completed sentences into the textboxes.
My problem is ________________________.
This is my intended argument: ________________________.
I think this source will be very helpful in supporting my argument because ________________________.
I think this source will support my other sources because ________________________.

Constructing Your Writing Plan
Answer each of the questions below. Your responses for this Writing Plan should reflect the new ideas that may have come about as a result of your work in this module on evaluating sources and annotating those sources. Each response should be one fully developed paragraph in length (5-8 sentences).
As you work on the Writing Plan, remember to refer to the assignment guidelines and rubric (click here) to make sure you’re fulfilling each aspect of the assignment. You can also download/print the rubric.
Your responses will be saved to the Notebook, which can be found under the “Course Tools” menu. You can also download all of your responses to a single Word document by following the directions at the bottom of this page.

 
1. What is the argument you will be addressing in your persuasive essay? Explain how the argument is derived from your major, the major you are considering pursuing, or your field of work.
2. What are three possible key points for your selected topic? How do they support your main argument?
3. Who is the audience that will be reading your essay? What potential challenges will you have supporting your argument with this demographic?
4. What goal do you hope to accomplish with this essay? What will this essay need to be successful?
5. Potential resources are pieces of evidence that could be used to support your argument. Provide a brief description of the sources that you used for the Annotations activity earlier in this module and explain how they will reinforce your argument.
6. Explain how the key points of your argument align with the supporting resources you just described in Question #5.
7. Based on your argument, describe where integrating evidence would be most effective and explain why.
8. Describe a revision strategy that would be most effective in informing you while writing this essay. Why would this strategy be effective?
9. How can your own writing improve from receiving feedback from an outside party? How can that feedback be integrated?