20.1: The Classroom Lecture and Activity
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Classroom Lecture and Activity
SLOs-Summarize, analyze, and evaluate the arguments, counterarguments, and evidence in the writing of others -Conduct inquiry-based research by formulating research questions, identifying a variety of sources (e.g., utilizing internet and library resources, such as scholarly sources), and evaluating and integrating sources into writing, including using sources as evidence in researched arguments.
Evaluating and Analyzing Different Types of Sources
There are many places to source information for your essays. Sometimes the container -where that information lives- is automatically deemed credible. For instance, a Library database with curated articles, essays, and other texts. On the other hand, there are plenty of websites where you might go get information that might leave you a bit more skeptical. It is important to approach finding information from the perspective of evaluation. Everything you decide to use in your research essay should be evaluated regardless of where you found it. This may mean that some of your evaluation will be more in depth and some of your evaluations will be quick and that will you leave only to analyze the information.
Resources for Evaluation
There are many articles, websites, and video tutorials that you can use to help you understand evaluation and sites that do part of the evaluation for you. For example, Allsides is a website that does the political/media bias evaluation for you.
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
During your research, you will encounter organizations that publish articles (primary, secondary, or tertiary), conduct interviews, produce primary research, write tertiary information, and present data. It is your job as a researcher to evaluate that information and determine whether it is sufficient for your research. No longer will you look at an url and say that just because it is a .org that it is credible and should be used.
Are Non-Profits Good to use or Bad?
It is not about whether the organization or their site is good or bad. Answering that question won't help with your evaluation. A better question to ask is whether the information on the site can pass the RADAR or C.R.A.A.P test.
In this lesson, you will look at some sources that seem like great options for research, but they are sources to really use your RADAR on.
As you research, you will need to use your R.A.D.A.R and your other research skills (like the CRAAP test) to determine not only if a source is credible, but also if you want to incorporate that source into your essay. Ask yourself: Is it a trustworthy source?
Use your R.A.D.A.R to find out.
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RELEVANCE: HOW WELL DOES THIS FIT YOUR NEEDS?
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Is the information too advanced or too basic? Who is the intended audience? Does this help answer your research question?
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AUTHORITY: WHERE DOES THIS COME FROM?
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Who made this? What are their qualifications or experiences? Who published this? What are their goals? Can you check the information they use yourself? Provide a works cited or bibliography? Has someone else already checked their information? Peer-Review?
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DATE: HOW OLD IS THIS?
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When was this first published? Last updated? Are any of the links broken? Is any of the information outdated? How recent does information need to be to answer your research question?
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APPEARANCE: WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
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How many ads are there? How many images used? Are images used to persuade or inform? Is it presented in a professional style? What style is is presented in? Do they make it easy to find their sources? What kinds of words do they use? Are there any typos or errors?
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REASON: WHY WAS THIS MADE?
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Is there any obvious bias or prejudice? (Remember this is not the same as having an opinion) Does it use emotional or forceful language? Are different points of view discussed? Are important facts or data left out?
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IS THE SOURCE RELIABLE OR IS IT CRAAP?
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C CURRENCY: IS THE INFORMATION TIMELY?
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Is the information up to date? When the website last updated?
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R RELEVANCE: Does it answer your research question?
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Does the website/article address the topic and have the information you need? Does the information enhance your research project?
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A AUTHORITY: WHO MADE THIS?
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Who created the information? Who sponsored the website/information? Are the authors clearly identified? Are the authors qualified?
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A ACCURACY: CAN YOU VERIFY THE INFORMATION?
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Is there a list of references or bibliography? Does the site/article link to other high quality relevant sites/articles? Can you verify the facts? Has significant information been omitted?
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P PURPOSE: WHY DOES THE SITE/ARTICLE EXIST?
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Is the purpose to inform, teach, sell, entertain, or persuade? What type of information is present? Propaganda, fact or opinion? Is the information biased or one-sided? Is the information comprehensive or does it just give an overview? |
There are many other ways to evaluate sources. Go to the City Colleges Of Chicago Library and check out the Libguides. https://researchguides.ccc.edu/libraries/guides
When doing research, you may oftentimes run across not-for-profit organizations that do a good job of summarizing the cause they represent and have credible information that you can use in your essays. When evaluating these sources, it is important to take into account their purpose, how they present information to the audience, and how biased the information is. Remember that most sources have a bias; it isn't inherently wrong. Your job is to figure out the degree and whether it will hinder your research or not.
Not-for-Profit examples that may not be good sources
- WWF Effects of Climate Change: The WWF is an organization that is well known so it may pop up in your search if you are writing about the environment or animals. However, their main purpose for disseminating information is to get people to donate to their cause. In order to do this, they release a lot of information, but as a researcher, if it doesn’t pass an evaluation, especially with when it comes to authorship, it may not be the best choice for your college essay. At times, this means if you do use it, it would be considered a tertiary source.
- About PETA: This another popular organization that would more than likely come up during a search if your topic was about animals or the environment. Once again, evaluation has nothing to do with whether her organization in and of itself is good or bad. As a researcher you have to ask yourself how the information can be used in your essay and if it fits. What type of explanations and analysis would need to accompany the source? Finally, if you are trying to do an evaluation and you end up in an information loop: all the data comes from the same organization, you might want to consider comparing the information to other sources.
- Greater Chicago Food Depository- This organization does amazing work around Chicago, but if you are researching food inequities and need credible information that isn’t tertiary, you will need to turn to other sources.
Non-Profit examples that could work
On the other hand, there are many non-profit and government organizations that do offer credible information that would pass an evaluation. This is usually because the organization is linked to a research center where experts author studies, or they have two parts to their websites. The front end usually offers tertiary information , but the other side offers the collected research, in depth reports and are often written by academics or experts in the field of study for other experts to read. In this way, you may come across primary sources and scholarly articles.
- Chicago Urban League Website: They have a partnership with the University of Chicago in their research and policy section. They often run sociological studies and publish the findings on their website.
- Chicago Housing Authority Website: This government website is very cluttered, but as a large organization, they also publish and house court and government documents that can be used as primary sources.
- https://kidsofftheblock.us: This website at first glance, doesn’t offer much information except for their mission statement and some personal experiences. However, many websites like this have links to current news stories that you could then use. So while, you wouldn’t cite directly from this website, the new article you find could be used once it passed an evaluation.
Apart from non-profit organizations, you will definitely need to find other sources. You may even not be allowed to them at all. Depending on your assignment requirements, you may need a variety of sources that you will need to evaluate and analyze. Using the topic ’Impacts of living in Chicago', here are some sources that you might find while researching and want to analyze further.
Books
Remember that books can be primary or secondary; digital or physical, but many books that criticize a situation or offer a theoretical lens through which to examine a topic are secondary sources. The library is a great place to find your books and many books have electronic versions where you can easily scan the chapters or download individual chapters if you need to.
- The South Side:a portrait of Chicago and American segregation / Natalie Y. Moore
Scholarly Journal
Scholarly Journals are also wonderful great options for primary and secondary sources. Your job is to determine to what extent you will be able to use and decode the information. Many journals are written in the jargon of that field by experts for other experts. Also, many scholars at research universities must publish to keep their jobs. This is known as publish or perish; so oftentimes, it is good to look at the author and find the work that best aligns with their true expertise.
Primary
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- Examining the impact of Food deserts on Public Health in Chicago By Mari Gallagher https://www.marigallagher.com/2020/02/20/examining-the-impact-of-food-deserts-on-public-health-in-chicago/
- Chicago Food Desert Report PDF
Magazine Articles
Secondary
- https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-unfulfilled-promise-of-the-fair-housing-act
- Food deserts persist in Chicago despite more supermarkets - Chicago ReporterChicago Reporter1.pdf
- https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-unexpected-power-of-your-old-neighborhood
News Organizations
When you are looking at newspaper and magazine articles for your essay, you may have too many to choose from, which means you will run across some of the same information. It is your job to evaluate these sources especially for media bias. Then, you can decide which article you want to keep. It is no point in using two articles that have essentially the same information. To learn about media bias, there are several websites to use. One resource you can use is Allsides. https://www.allsides.com/media-bias/media-bias-ratings
Classroom Activity
Using the library databases, see if you can find one book, one academic journal, and one news article using your chosen research topic. Then run a RADAR OR CRAAP test on the news article. Since the source comes from the library, you may already assume it is credible, but it is important to pay close attention to it’s relevance to your research essay.