Evaluating Sources: A Grade 11 ELA Worksheet
This worksheet helps 11th-grade students practice evaluating the credibility and reliability of various sources for research.
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Evaluating Sources: Grade 11 ELA
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Read each question carefully and follow the instructions. This worksheet is designed to help you practice evaluating the credibility and relevance of sources for research.
Scenario: You are researching the impact of social media on teenage mental health. You come across an online article titled 'Screen Time: The Silent Killer of Our Youth' from a website called 'TruthSeeker.org'. The article claims that all social media use leads to severe depression and anxiety in teenagers, citing anecdotes and a study from an anonymous 'leading expert'. There are no links to external research or author credentials.
1. Which of the following factors would MOST significantly raise a red flag about the credibility of the 'TruthSeeker.org' article?
The use of emotional language in the title.
The website's name, 'TruthSeeker.org'.
Lack of identifiable author, verifiable sources, and external links.
Its focus on social media's negative effects.
2. What type of bias might be present in an article that only presents anecdotal evidence and one-sided claims about a controversial topic?
Confirmation bias
Selection bias
Sensationalism bias
All of the above
3. A reliable source typically exhibits , meaning it is free from personal opinions or prejudices, and , indicating that the information is current and up-to-date.
4. When evaluating a source, consider the author's , their experience or qualifications in the subject matter, and their potential , which could influence their presentation of information.
5. A source published by a university press is automatically considered more credible than a blog post.
True
False
6. The .gov and .edu domains always guarantee that a source is unbiased and accurate.
True
False
7. Briefly explain the 'CRAAP Test' for source evaluation and list two of its components.
8. Describe a situation where a source might be highly credible but not relevant to your research topic. Why is relevance as important as credibility?
Match each term with its best definition.
9. Bias
a. The timeliness of information.
10. Authority
b. A particular tendency, trend, inclination, or feeling, especially one that is preconceived or unreasoned.
11. Currency
c. The qualifications and credentials of the author or publisher.
12. You are writing a research paper on the effectiveness of renewable energy sources. Compare and contrast how you would evaluate a source from a reputable scientific journal (e.g., Nature, Science) versus an article from a political advocacy group's website (e.g., 'GreenFuture.org'). Discuss the different criteria you would prioritize for each and why.