Skip to Main Content

Humanities

General guide for Humanities; also includes resources for Asian Studies, American Studies, Creative Arts, European Studies, Jewish Studies, Liberal Studies, Middle East Studies, and Religious Studies.

CRAAP Test

When you search for information, you're going to find a lot of it...but is it good information? You will have to determine that for yourself, and the CRAAP Test can help. The CRAAP Test is a list of questions to help you evaluate the information you find. Different criteria will be more or less important depending on your situation or need.  

Key: An asterisk (*) indicates criteria for Web sources only

Currency: The timeliness of the information. 

  • When was the information published or posted?
  • Has the information been revised or updated?
  • Is the information current or out of date for your topic?
  • Are the links functional? *

Relevance: The importance of the information for your needs.

  • Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
  • Who is the intended audience?
  • Is the information at an appropriate level (i.e. not too elementary or advanced for your needs)?
  • Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this is one you will use?
  • Would you be comfortable using this source for a research paper?

Authority: The source of the information.

  • Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
  • Are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations given?
  • What are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations?
  • What are the author's qualifications to write on the topic?
  • Is there contact information, such as a publisher or e-mail address?
  • Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source? examples: .com, .edu, .gov, .org, .net *

Accuracy: The reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the informational content.

  • Where does the information come from?
  • Is the information supported by evidence?
  • Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
  • Can you verify any of the information in another source or from personal knowledge?
  • Does the language or tone seem biased or free of emotion?
  • Are there spelling, grammar, or other typographical errors?

Purpose: The reason the information exists.

  • What is the purpose of the information? To inform? teach? sell? entertain? persuade?
  • Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?
  • Is the information fact? opinion? propaganda? Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
  • Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases?
     

Adapted from The CRAAP Test by Sarah Blakeslee at Chico State's Meriam Library.

Is It Plagiarism?

3 ways to avoid plagiarism

Three Simple Ways to Avoid Plagiarism

1. Summarize

      When you summarize...

  • the text you write is much shorter than the original text.
  • you must reference the original source.
  • you must use your own words, usually with a very limited use of quotations.

2. Quote

      When you quote...

  • you must reference the original source.
  • the text produced is the exact length of the original text quoted (unless ellipses are used).
  • you must use the original author's exact words and put quotation marks around them.
  • include the page number of the original source from which you borrowed the author's original language.

3. Paraphrase

      When you paraphrase...

  • the text you produce may be shorter or longer than the original text.
  • you must reference the original source.
  • you must use your own words.

 

Evaluating Information

These sites can help you evaluate the accuracy, reliability, and currency of information in general, and Internet information in particular.