This document outlines an instruction session presented by Laksamee Putnam, a research and instruction librarian. The session covered evaluating online resources using the CRAP test, developing effective keywords and search strings for research topics, and searching for relevant websites using Google and alternative search engines. Students were asked to come up with potential research topics, keywords, and synonyms for their topics. They then searched for and shared website results, and assessed the results using the CRAP criteria. The session concluded with students filling out worksheets and providing three "Today I Learned" statements. Contact information was provided for any follow up questions.

1. Laksamee Putnam
lputnam@towson.edu
Research & Instruction Librarian
http://bit.ly/tsemthompsonsp16c2
Please login to a
computer and go to this
URL

2. First…
 Laksamee Putnam
 lputnam@towson.edu
 Cook Library Reference:
 410.704.2462.
 IM/email
 Phone: 410.704.3746.
 Twitter: @CookLibraryofTU
 Albert S. Cook Facebook profile!

3. Agenda
 Pre-class reading Discussion
 Evaluating Resources - TIL
 Keywords
 Find a website resource

4. Wikipedia Woes and Google Gaffs
 What are the pros and cons of so
much information being online?
 What do you do to be sure you’re
finding credible resources?
 Which criteria did you like best
from the “Spotting Bad Science”?
Why?
 Why is it important to support your
argument with valid sources?
 Why do you think there is a
difference between what scientists
and the public think?
Brumming, A. (2015) A rough guide to
spotting bad science. Compound Interest.
http://www.compoundchem.com/2014/04/0
2/a-rough-guide-to-spotting-bad-science/
Pew Research Center. (2015) Chapter 3:
Attitudes and beliefs on science and
technology topics. Public and Scientists’
Views on Science and Society.
http://bit.ly/pewreport2015sciencevpublic

5. Today I Learned (TIL)
 In Reddit people share “headlines” in TIL format
 Which resources are “good”
 Which resources are “bad”
 How do you know?

6. Today I Learned (TIL)

7. Check for CRAP
Currency
Reliability
Authority
Purpose/Point of View

8. Check for CRAP
 Currency
 How recent is the
information?
 Can you locate a date
when the resource was
written/created/updated?
 Based on your topic, is this
current enough?
 Why might the date
matter for your topic?
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
http://www.flickr.com/photos/helloeveryone123/3937374193/si
zes/m/in/photostream/

9. Check for CRAP
 Reliability
 What kind of
information is included
in the resource?
 Does the author provide
citations & references
for quotations & data
 Where am I accessing
this information?
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
http://www.flickr.com/photos/schnappi/5930145952/sizes/l/in/photostream/

10. Check for CRAP
 Authority
 Can you determine who
the author/creator is?
 What are their
credentials (education,
affiliation, experience,
etc.)?
 Who is the publisher or
sponsor of the
work/site?
 Is this publisher/sponsor
reputable
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
http://rantchick.com/a-doctrine-on-respect/

11. Check for CRAP
 Purpose/Point of View
 Is the content primarily
opinion?
 Is the information
balanced or biased?
 What is the purpose of
the information? Is it to
inform, teach, sell,
entertain or persuade
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cogdog/5484085301/sizes/m/in/
photostream/

12. Which words?
 Take a look at these pictures.
What do you see?
 Go here and fill in a word to
describe each picture
A
D C
B

13. Keywords are critical!
 Sample topic:
 Can air pollution regulation affect climate change?
 First, break the question down into key concepts:
 Concept #1: air pollution
 Concept #2: regulation
 Concept #3: climate change

14. More on keywords…
 Expand your list to include synonyms then add
to it once you have done some background
reading.
 Can air pollution regulation affect climate change?
air pollution regulation climate change
smog
carbon dioxide
ozone
Clean Air Act
Clean Power Plan
National Ozone Standard
global warming
greenhouse effect

15. Putting it all together…
 Can air pollution regulation affect climate change?
“air pollution” OR “carbon emissions”
AND
regulation OR “Clean Air Act” OR “Clean Power Plan”
AND
“climate change” OR “global warming”
air pollution regulation climate change
smog
carbon emissions
ozone
Clean Air Act
Clean Power Plan
National Ozone Standard
global warming
greenhouse effect

16. Create keywords
 Complete Part 1 of your worksheet
 Write your research topic on your worksheet
 Pass it to a group member
 Group member fills in key concepts and synonyms
 Give the worksheet back to the original owner

17. Potential Topics
 What role do chlorofluorocarbons play in climate
change?
 What do global circulation models predict for the
future?
 How is human health altered by climate change?
 What are environmental refugees and how can we help
them?
 How long will our fresh water resources last?

18. Improve Google
 Advanced Google
searching
 Duck Duck Go
 Gred Laden Climate
Change search Engine
 Intergovernmental
Organization Search
Engine
Try these alternative search engines

19. Find a website resource!
 Use your keywords in Google
 Use your keywords in one of the Google alternatives
 Pick the most interesting result from both
 Enter your results here:
 http://padlet.com/lputnam/hkw40fhdz8es
 Enter your name, search string, and a link to the website

20. Take a look at the results
 Assess the results posted with the CRAP assessment
 What problems did you have ….
 Coming up with keywords?
 Searching for a website?

21. Thanks for listening!
 Fill out Part 2 of your paper worksheet
 Fill out 3 TIL statements about your library session today
 Hand the worksheet in to the librarian
 Next library session:
 Pre-class reading and prepare for discussion
 Use your keywords to find books/articles

22. Questions?
 Feel free to contact me:
 Laksamee Putnam
 lputnam@towson.edu
 410.704.3746.
 Twitter: @CookLibraryofTU
 Or any reference librarian:
 Visit Cook Library Reference Desk
 410.704.2462.
 IM – tucookchat