This powerpoint focuses on the criteria for judging the relevance and worth of ideas

1. Judge the Relevance and Worth
of Ideas presented in a
text(Part 1)

2. Objectives:
1. Identify the standards to use in judging the
relevance and worth of ideas,
soundness of author’s reasoning, and the
effectiveness of the presentation;
2. Provide critical feedback/reaction to a specific
situation;
3. Evaluate information sources using the CAARP
test

3. Introduction:
Factors Affecting Source Credibility:
1. The author's level of competence
2. The author's point of view
3. Date of publication or latest update.

4. As a student, you must have the ability to filter
information collected from these sources. It will assist
you in avoiding misinformation, which has been more
prevalent in recent years as a result of fake news.
Additionally, you must develop your ability to evaluate
the relevance and value of their material prior to
utilizing them as the basis for personal decisions,
particularly when dealing with social problems and
real-world challenges.

5. We are constantly bombarded with information: Email,
Radio, TV, Social Media, the Internet, Friends, and
School Readings.
One of the most important things that we can learn to
do for schoolwork and life is to filter for the best
information – in other words, reliable information.

6. But how do you determine if a source is reliable?

7. In making sound judgments about the overall quality of
information presented in a viewing material, you need
to consider the following elements:

8. I. Currency
It is important because information can quickly become
obsolete. Supporting your statement with facts that
have been superseded by new
research or recent events weakens your argument. Of
course, not all assignments require the most current
information; older materials can provide a historical or
comprehensive understanding of your topic.

9. How do you know if the timeliness of your information
is appropriate?
1. When was the information published or last
updated?
2. Have newer articles been published on your topic?
3. Are links or references to other sources up to date? Is
your topic in an area that changes rapidly, like
technology or popular culture?

10. If these cars
were
sources,
which would
you use?

11. Old and Abandoned Car
– This source was perfectly
appropriate
once upon a time. But now it’s
so old it no longer runs. It’s
rusty and abandoned and
totally out of date. Don’t use
old, outdated information.
Find
something that still runs.

12. Classic and Well Maintained Car
– This source may have been written many years ago,
but it’s still considered to be a core work on the subject.
You will encounter sources like this more often in the
humanities and social sciences than in medicine and the
sciences where it is crucial to consider the current
research. If in doubt about an older source, ask your
professor or a librarian for guidance.

13. Shiny and New Car
– Current research and information is
usually best. For example, if you’re
researching a controversial issue, you
should consider the debate that is
playing out right now. In the sciences,
new practices and innovations are
being introduced all the time. Current
information could make the difference
between life and death.

14. Questions to Ask?
1. When was the source (website, article, book, etc.)
published?
Books – Have the date information on the back of the
Title Page.
Internet Articles – and websites usually post the date
information just after the article title or at the bottom
of the webpage.

15. II. Accuracy
It is the extent to which information contains factual
and updated details that can be verified by consulting
alternative and/or primary sources.

16. Questions to Ask?
1. Is there any support?
2. Is the information supported by evidence or outside
sources?

17. If you come across an information source that does not
cite where the author got the facts, be skeptical.

18. Example:
“A survey conducted in 2009 by CareerBuilder.com
found the use of social media sites by employers to
screen job candidates had doubled from the previous
year.27 The Society for Human Resource Management
conducted a survey of more than 500 of its member in
October 2011 and concluded that 18% of employers
who recruited job candidates used social network
searches as a screening tool for these candidates.28…

19. 27 Sommers, Meredith. “Employers Differ On Checking
Online; ACLU Rips Use by State Police”, Washington
Times, 4 Apr. 2012, p. A16.
28 Kadaba, Lini S. “What is Privacy? As Job-Seekers Are
Judged by Their Tweets and Facebook Posts,
Uncertainty Abounds,” Philadelphia Inquirer, 2 May
2012. http://articles.philly.com/2012-05-
03/news/31539376_1_facebook
photosfacebookpasswords-employers.

20. Notice how this author cites
evidence and uses footnotes to
show where she found the
information.

21. Does the information seem correct based on your
personal knowledge?
Trust your gut. If a source just seems wrong, be
skeptical and consider another source for your research.
The Internet is full of false claims, hoax websites, and
satire.

22. Example-
“New Study Finds 85% of Americans Don’t Know All The
Dance Moves To National Anthem” from the Onion.
The Onion is a satirical newspaper that publishes
outlandish, fake news stories. Yet many people fall for
their headlines day after day!

23. III. Authority
It is important in judging the credibility of the author’s
assertions. In a trial regarding DNA evidence, a jury
gives far more authority to what a genetics specialist
has to say compared to someone off the street.

24. Which of these authors would you trust?

25. I am Dr. Alexander Lee - the Associate
Professor and public policy researcher at
Harvard
Kennedy School of Government. I finished
my PhD
in political science from Columbia
University,
published my research in academic
journals, and
presents papers at conferences around
the world.

26. I am Todd and I create blogs. I
write about
my feelings on politics, video
games, and my cat,
Noodles. My only real expertise
is my cat, Noodles.

27. Hi, Elise here! I am a technology
blogger. I work in the industry, test
new products firsthand, do live-blogs
tech events, and attend all major
conferences. I write for a respected
insider technology website.

28. Hi guys, I’m Kevin - a
conspiracy theorist. I have
selfpublished eleven books,
which you can order from
the PayPal link on my website.
They have many
typos.

29. Questions to Ask?
1. Who authored/created the information?
2. Who is the Author, publisher, or creator of the article,
website, or book?
3. What are the author’s credentials? Is he/she qualified
to write on this topic?

30. Since anyone can post anything on the Internet, you
need to make sure that the author has the expertise to
know what he/she is talking about. Try Googling the
author. What can you learn about their qualifications?

31. IV. Relevance
It is the information's level of importance to a particular
viewing purpose or explicitly stated need for that
information.

32. 1. Does your source really relate to your topic and help
you support your argument?
2. Is the information at the appropriate level?

33. V. Purpose
It is important because books, articles, and Web pages
exist to educate, entertain, or sell a product or point of
view. Some sources may be frivolous or commercial in
nature, providing inadequate, false, or biased
information. Other sources are more ambiguous
concerning their partiality. Varied points of view can be
valid, as long as they are based upon good reasoning
and careful use of evidence.

34. Why was your source written?
Here are a few common reasons information is
published:
- Sell – Infomercials
- Inform – Reporter on the news, Researcher in a study
- Persuade – Activist, Debater/Speechmaker

35. Questions to Ask?
1. Why was your source written?
2. What is the purpose of the source?
Information that is seeking to sell you something or
persuade you is more likely to discuss the positive
aspects of a product or point of view. For a more
balanced view, seek out sources that were created to
inform.
3. Does the information express a bias toward a
particular view?

36. Information of all purposes can be used. In fact,
sometimes information that presents a bias or
preference for a certain point of view can be useful
when you are creating an argument. However, if you are
writing an informative paper, it is a good idea to
acknowledge any bias you find in your source, so that
your teacher knows that you recognize the expressed
bias.

37. Example- Environmental Issues – Who says?
How would information published by Oil Companies
differ from statements by environmental advocacy
groups like the Sierra Club or the federal Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA)?