Is it C.R.A.A.P.? How to evaluate what you read. Underline important information like statistics, names of people and studies and places. Circle dependent words: if, might, may, could, appears (and so on) Currency When was this published? How old is the information discussed? Relevance Who is the intended audience? Is this article difficult or easy to understand? Authority Who is the author? Who is the publisher? Do they have any known biases? What kind of publisher is it? (newspaper, magazine, journal article,

website) Is there contact information? Accuracy What is the evidence that is used in the article? Can you find the same information in other articles? (over)

What kind of language is used in the article? (scientific, slang, vague, other)

Purpose What is the purpose of this information (inform, teach, sell, entertain,

persuade)? Is the intention/purpose clear and easy to understand? Is the information fact, opinion, or propaganda? What biases are present? (political, ideological, cultural, religious,

institutional or personal) Next Steps: Is this article trustworthy? Yes / No / Maybe

Do you need more information? Yes / No Do you need to consult a librarian? Yes / No Do you need to consult a doctor? Yes / No (Adapted from Evaluating Information hand out from CSU, Chico)