{"id":2837,"date":"2019-12-23T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-12-23T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kibin.com\/blog\/?post_type=essay-writing-blog&p=2837"},"modified":"2019-12-23T07:51:24","modified_gmt":"2019-12-23T15:51:24","slug":"apply-craap-test-essay-sources","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kibin.com\/essay-writing-blog\/apply-craap-test-essay-sources\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Apply the CRAAP Test to Your Essay Sources"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tell me if this sounds familiar: You\u2019re searching online for sources for your research paper, and halfway through reading, you ask yourself, \u201cWho writes this crap?\u201d<\/p>\n

Good question.<\/p>\n

You, your neighbor, or just about anyone can publish online. In the world of the internet, you could become Allie S. Everson, PhD and write an article titled \u201cThe Evolution of String Theory: Are Scientists Stringing Us Along?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sounds credible, right? All you need to do is write a really good summary of what you can dig up on Wikipedia and bam\u2014you have an article!<\/p>\n

The problems with this are pretty obvious. First, you\u2019re likely plagiarizing<\/a> another source to write your article. And second, you\u2019re claiming you hold a PhD.<\/p>\n

Another problem is that some unsuspecting student might be citing your bogus article in a research paper<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You could easily fall victim to bogus \u201cexperts\u201d too, if you don\u2019t carefully choose your sources.<\/p>\n

So how exactly do <\/i>you decide if a source is crap? Simple: Apply the CRAAP Test!<\/p>\n

(Yes, really. CRAAP Test. That\u2019s really what it\u2019s called.)<\/p>\n

The test helps you determine whether your sources are crap, so keep reading to learn how to use it.<\/p>\n

What Is the CRAAP Test?<\/h2>\n

The CRAAP Test is a series of questions to help you decide whether a source is credible.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s like evaluating all the elements that make up a source through a microscope. You need to look at all of its parts to determine whether it\u2019s appropriate for your research essay.<\/p>\n

CRAAP<\/b> stands for \u201ccurrency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose.\u201d You\u2019ll need to examine each one of these components to decide whether a source is crap or whether it\u2019s worthy of inclusion in your research paper<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Applying the CRAAP Test to Your Essay Sources<\/h2>\n

When you\u2019re completing research, you don\u2019t want to use every source you find. You also can\u2019t just assume that all sources are created equal.<\/p>\n

Sure, you\u2019ll save a lot of time by choosing the first five or ten sources that appear in your search results. But it\u2019s not likely that they\u2019ll be the best (or most appropriate) sources for your paper.<\/p>\n

Why?<\/p>\n

Because when you research, you\u2019ll encounter many sources that are, in fact, crap (especially if you\u2019re doing all of your research online using only websites).<\/p>\n

To determine what\u2019s useful and what\u2019s not, test your sources by asking the questions listed under each of the following categories.<\/p>\n

C<\/b>RAAP Test: Currency<\/h3>\n

In this case, currency has nothing to do with money. Here, currency refers to the timeliness of the source. In other words, when <\/b>was it written?<\/p>\n

Unless you\u2019re critiquing<\/a> a specific source or you\u2019re using it for a historical<\/a> overview, you\u2019ll want to find the most recent information possible.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re citing<\/a> a website, it might not be that easy to find the date the source was originally written. But you should be able to find the date the information was last updated. Check the bottom of the webpage for a date when the information was created or last updated.<\/p>\n

Think the date of a source can\u2019t really mean that much? Think again.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s say you find a source online (written five years ago) about a breakthrough cancer treatment. A five-year-old source may not be that old for some <\/i>topics. But in the world of science and technology, five years might as well be a lifetime.<\/p>\n

That breakthrough cancer treatment of five years ago might have already been deemed unsafe, and several new breakthrough treatments might now be in place.<\/p>\n

CR<\/b>AAP Test: Relevance<\/h3>\n

This may sound a bit too obvious, but you\u2019ll need to ask yourself whether the source is relevant to your research.<\/p>\n

Just because you\u2019re writing a paper about minimum-wage laws and the title of the article includes the words \u201cminimum-wage laws,\u201d you can\u2019t automatically assume the content of the article meets your needs.<\/p>\n

The article might explain the reasons that minimum-wage laws<\/a> were created. But if you\u2019ve already located a source about the history of the law to use as background information, the article may not provide any new or useful information for your paper.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll also need to think about the intended audience<\/a> and whether the source is written at an appropriate level.<\/p>\n

If, for example, the source is written for middle school students and you\u2019re writing a college research essay, you can pretty much assume your professor won\u2019t be too happy seeing the source on your Works Cited<\/a> or References<\/a> page.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t assume that scholarly resources will always be written for the appropriate audience, either.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re writing a paper about mental illness and you\u2019ve located a research paper written by <\/i>doctors for <\/i>doctors, you might become a bit lost. If the paper is written for other doctors, the authors have likely used terms<\/a> and explanations that you simply won\u2019t understand.<\/p>\n

You should skip these types of articles too. If you can\u2019t make sense of the information, you certainly can\u2019t use it as a source in your paper.<\/p>\n

CRA<\/b>AP Test: Authority<\/h3>\n

I have it on good authority that evaluating the authority of a website means more than simply locating the author of the article or site.<\/p>\n

Knowing the name of the author doesn\u2019t do you much good if that\u2019s all <\/b>you know.<\/p>\n

Start your review of the site\u2019s authority by looking at the author\u2019s credentials.<\/p>\n

Does the author have a degree in the field? Does he or she work in the field? Has the author written other articles or books about the subject?<\/p>\n

NOTE:<\/b> Someone having written about a subject or published a book about a subject doesn\u2019t automatically <\/i>mean that he or she is credible.<\/p>\n

A self-proclaimed \u201chealer,\u201d for instance, isn\u2019t as credible as an MD (doctor of medicine) if you\u2019re researching new medical treatments.<\/p>\n

Next, consider the type of source you\u2019re reviewing and whether it\u2019s appropriate for your needs.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re researching opinions about the newest iPhone, reading blogs and forums written by just about anyone might be useful.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, if you\u2019re researching the topic of global warming<\/a> for your essay, reading sources written by just about anyone is definitely not <\/i>recommended.<\/p>\n

When you\u2019re evaluating the authority of a web source, remember to look at the URL. A .com<\/b> site is more likely to simply want to sell you something. A .gov<\/b> or .edu<\/b> site will likely present more in-depth and balanced information. A .org <\/b>site may contain detailed information, but it may have an agenda and may be biased<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re looking for clear, accurate, unbiased, and well-documented sources. Usually, this means avoiding .com sites. (News websites, such as CNN.com, NYTimes.com, or NPR.com are generally exceptions to this rule.)<\/p>\n

Looking for help finding credible sources online? Read 5 Best Sources to Help With Writing a Research Paper<\/a>.<\/p>\n

CRAA<\/b>P Test: Accuracy<\/h3>\n

Does this source hit the mark? Is the information correct?<\/p>\n

Before you decide whether you want to use the source in your essay, check to see whether you can verify the information.<\/p>\n

If one source states 75% of college students don\u2019t bother to purchase the required textbooks for their courses and another source states roughly 10% of students don\u2019t purchase textbooks, look to see how the statistics were gathered and try to verify which source is correct. (Keep in mind, you may find a third source that presents yet another statistic, so you may need to continue to research to verify accuracy.)<\/p>\n

Next, read carefully to make sure the author uses ample evidence to support claims<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If a source claims 50% of all teens with valid driver\u2019s licenses receive at least one speeding ticket before they reach the age of 20, does the author support this claim with verifiable, statistical evidence? Or does the author just make up random statistics to support that argument<\/a>?<\/p>\n

The final step in checking accuracy is to examine the author\u2019s arguments. Is the information balanced, or is it biased? A biased source contains only one side of the argument, likely with little evidence to support claims<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A Note About Appearances:<\/b> If you\u2019re reading an anonymous source with multiple spelling and typographical errors, it\u2019s pretty easy to figure out that the source might not be credible and that the information might not be accurate. But sometimes non-credible websites appear to be professional. Don\u2019t be fooled by a slick-looking website.<\/p>\n

To learn more, take a look at Evaluating Websites: What You Need to Know to Find Great Sources<\/a>.<\/p>\n\t

\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
Stuck on Your Essay?<\/div>\n\t\t\t
Check out thousands of example essays.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tYes! Show me examples.<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n

CRAAP<\/b> Test: Purpose<\/h3>\n

No, don\u2019t spend your time now asking what\u2019s the purpose of writing a research paper<\/a>. (That\u2019s a conversation for another time.)<\/p>\n

Now is the time to ask why <\/i>your potential essay source was published.<\/p>\n

Was it written to inform readers? Does it use fair, unbiased language? Or is the purpose to persuade? Does the author use persuasive<\/a> or manipulative language to convince readers?<\/p>\n

Again, this is especially important when evaluating websites. Does the website exist solely to sell you something? Is it trying to promote a political or religious agenda?<\/p>\n

If the source is biased and attempts to promote a specific agenda, it\u2019s probably not your best bet for a research essay (unless, of course, your paper intends to evaluate the article<\/a> and examine the bias and propaganda in the source).<\/p>\n

Now that you know what the CRAAP Test is, let\u2019s apply it to an example assignment.<\/p>\n

A Sample CRAAP Test<\/h2>\n

For the purposes of this CRAAP Test, pretend you\u2019re writing an argumentative essay<\/a> about animal abuse and testing.<\/p>\n

Should you cite the website People for the Ethical Treatment for Animals (PETA)<\/a> in a formal, research-based argumentative essay?<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s put PETA to the test. (Don\u2019t worry\u2014no animals will be harmed in this experiment.)<\/p>\n

Currency<\/h3>\n

When you check the bottom of the homepage, you\u2019ll notice that the page lists the current year as a copyright date.<\/p>\n

Feature stories as well as news stories are current, with publication times as recent as 23 hours ago.<\/p>\n

Clearly, PETA keeps its site up to date and provides current information.<\/p>\n

Relevance<\/h3>\n

PETA\u2019s entire focus is animal welfare, as pointed out by the following mission statement: \u201cAnimals are not ours to experiment on, eat, wear, or abuse in any other way.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re arguing that animal abuse and testing needs to stop, PETA provides plenty of information to review. It\u2019s safe to say that PETA is a relevant source.<\/p>\n

Authority<\/h3>\n

PETA includes a \u201cPETA People\u201d section that lists various staff members and executive board members.<\/p>\n

Listing employees\u2019 credentials helps to increase the credibility of the site as this illustrates that writers are capable and qualified to write about the topic of animal welfare.<\/p>\n

Accuracy<\/h3>\n

Though PETA contains a number of news articles, most of these articles are written only in support of PETA\u2019s activities, making much of the information biased.<\/p>\n

While the articles may appear to contain credible information about world events (like the UK banning wild animals in circuses), there are few (if any) links to additional outside sources to help verify information.<\/p>\n

Because PETA rarely links to outside sources, the information is presented only from PETA\u2019s point of view. This makes it difficult for the average reader to know how much of the information is accurate.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re not sure that a source is presenting accurate information, your next step in evaluating the source is to see if the information is published elsewhere.<\/p>\n

In the case of the UK banning wild animals in circuses, you can easily find a government website to verify<\/a> that such legislation has been introduced.<\/p>\n

But what about the accuracy of the other information presented on PETA\u2019s website?<\/p>\n

A quick online search about PETA uncovers a slew of negative articles and websites that attempt to highlight the supposed inaccuracies and lies promoted by PETA.<\/p>\n

Search results contain a number of opinion<\/a> pieces (like this one from Vassar College<\/a>) and websites (like this one<\/a>) that are in favor of abolishing PETA and attempt to expose \u201cthe truth.\u201d (Remember, not all sources are credible, and some of these sources will likely fail the CRAAP Test.)<\/p>\n

Within the search results, however, you\u2019ll also find credible blogs, op-eds, and articles from respected sources, such as HuffPost<\/a> and The Atlantic<\/a>. And it’s those credible sources that will make almost any reader question the authority of PETA and its usefulness as a research source.<\/p>\n\t

\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
Stuck on Your Essay?<\/div>\n\t\t\t
Check out thousands of example essays.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tYes! Show me examples.<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n

Purpose<\/h3>\n

The purpose of PETA is abundantly clear: to persuade.<\/p>\n

PETA’s goal is to convince readers to support its cause and get every reader to contribute to the organization. For instance, PETA heavily promotes its agenda through continued pop-ups asking readers to donate.<\/p>\n

PETA also favors emotional appeals<\/a> as it attempts to persuade readers through graphic pictures of testing, sad animals in cages, and happy, adopted animals. PETA also uses persuasive and manipulative language in an effort to convince readers.<\/p>\n

The final evaluation of PETA<\/h3>\n

While PETA is a widely known organization whose website contains a great deal of information against animal testing and abuse, the site fails the CRAAP Test and is not <\/i><\/b>a strong source for a research source.<\/p>\n

Due to its biased content, questionable reputation, emotional appeals, and overall purpose (to persuade, rather than to inform), skip PETA as a source. Instead, look to more scholarly sources to support your arguments.<\/p>\n

If your research consists of only online sources, here are a few resource ideas to get you started<\/a> on your research about animal testing.<\/p>\n

Want to further practice applying the CRAAP Test but don’t have any of your own sources yet? Grab an example research essay<\/a> from our essay library and assess its sources.<\/p>\n

Enough of This CRAAP<\/h2>\n

If you use crappy sources, you\u2019ll end up with a crappy paper (and most likely a crappy grade). Apply the CRAAP Test to ensure you\u2019re using credible sources for all of your assignments.<\/p>\n

Have you evaluated all of your sources and have a ton of useful resources but aren\u2019t sure what to do now?<\/p>\n

Check out these posts to help you with the next steps of the writing process<\/a>:<\/p>\n