IDENTIFYING RELIABLE

WEBSITES
By: Carlie Guritz

THE INTERNET
Provides billions of
pieces of
information
Not always
trustworthy:
Reliable vs.
Unreliable

C.A.R.S. Source Evaluation

Credibility
Accuracy
Reasonablenes
s
Support

CREDIBILITY
Definition:
thequalityofbeingbelievableorworthy
oftrust (Dictionary.com, 2014)
A credible source is

Trustworthy
Not biased
Relatively current
Backed up by other sources
grammatical correct

CREDIBILITY CHECKLIST
Author listed
Authors credentials: known or
respected authority on the issue
Organizational support
URL ends with or contains .gov,
.mil, .edu, or .org
No spelling error or grammar
mistakes

ACCURACY
Definition:
theconditionorqualityofbeingtrue,correct,orexact;
freedomfrom errorordefect;precisionorexactness;correctness. (Dictionary.com, 2014)
An accurate source is
Current
Factual, detailed, and exact
Is understandable

ACCURACY CHECKLIST
Current information
Updated relatively
recently
Information factual, detail,
and exact
Completeness and
accuracy
Understandable

REASONABLENESS
Definition: Reasonable
agreeabletoreasonorsoundjudgment;logical:
notexceedingthelimitprescribedbyreason;notexcessive:
(Dictionary.com, 2014)
A reasonable source is
Gives support
Factual

REASONABLENESS CHECKLIST
Information is balanced,
objective, reasoned
Conflict of interest listed
Support to any advisers
No slanted tone-Biased
If persuasive-opinions
backed up with facts

SUPPORT
Definition:
touphold(aperson,cause,policy,etc.)byaid,countenance,one's
vote,etc.;back;second.
tomaintainoradvocate(atheory,principle,etc.) (Dictionary.com, 2014)
A supported source has
Evidence
Contact information to author

SUPPORT CHECKLIST
Evidence presented
Authors contact
information
Information
supported by other
sources

PRACTICE
IS IT RELIABLE?
www.Wikipedia.org

True or False

True or False

True or False

True or False

True or False

www.nsf.gov
www.indiana.edu
www.besthistorysites.net
www.myjcpl.org

ANSWERS
www.Wikipedia.org
FALSE
www.nsf.gov
TRUE
www.indiana.edu
TRUE
www.besthistorysites.net
FALSE
www.myjcpl.org
TRUE

If you are still not sure

what are reliable
websites, make sure you
ask me or another
teacher!
We are here to help!

C.A.R.S. EVALUATION SHEET

DOWNLOAD & MORE!

C.A.R.S.
C.A.R.S. Source Evaluation Worksheet.rtf

C.R.A.P. Test
http://www.mchs.net/mchslib/lessons/webeval.pdf

REFERENCES
Central Library MCHS. (2013/14). The C.R.A.P. Test [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.mchs.net/mchslib/lessons/webeval.pdf
CLRC Writing Center. (n.d.). C.A.R.S. CHECKLIST FOR EVALUATING SOURCES [PDF]. Retrieved from
http://www.sbcc.edu/clrc/writing_center/wc_files/handout_masters/CARS%20Checklist%20for%20Evaluating%20Sources.pdf
Credibility/ accuracy/ reasonableness/ support. (2014). In Dictionary.com. Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/
Olamit, J. (2013, March 17). Evaluating the Credibility of Websites. Retrieved November 29, 2014, from Literacy: Practice Skills Every Day website:
http://www.mchs.net/mchslib/lessons/webeval.pdf
Thomson High School. (2014). How to Identify Credible On-line Resources. Retrieved November 26, 2014, from Thomson High School website:
http://www.mcduffie.k12.ga.us/ThomsonHigh.cfm?subpage=1267942