SWA 3 ~ TRAAP Testing

For SWA 3, you will find 3 sources that have information about the issue you chose for MWA 2. You will then
complete this T.R.A.A.P. Test Evaluation Worksheet for each of the sources you chose. You will submit the
T.R.A.A.P. Test Evaluation Worksheet, competed for all 3 your source for SWA 3.

Remember when choosing sourced you should look over the “Subculture Investigation ~ Questions to Guide
your Research” handout in the Subculture Resources section of the content tab in D2L to make sure you are
finding information to answer the questions you will have to address in the future Major Writing Assignments
this semester.

Your grade is determined as - 20 points for each source section. You will lose points if each section isn't filled
out and your answers fully explained. You should not have any Yes or No Answers!

T.R.A.A.P. Test Evaluation Worksheet

Source 1:
Provide an MLA citation for your source here:

What type of source is it? _ Scholarly Article _ Magazine

_ Newspaper _ Book _ Website

Timeliness: the “Newness” of the information

When was the information published or posted?
Is it recent enough to be relevant to your thesis? Why or
why not?
* Websites Only: How recently has the website been
updated?

Relevance: the importance of the information for your needs

Does the information relate to your topic or answer your
question? Explain your answer.
Is the information at an appropriate level? Explain your
answer.
Would you be comfortable using this source for a
research paper? Explain your answer.

Authority: the source of the information

Who is the creator or author? What can you find about
them in the source itself or through a web search?
What are the author’s (or if no author, publisher’s)
credentials or organizational affiliations? Is the author a
professor or other expert? Does the author have a degree
related to the topic?
1
 What are the author’s (or if no author, publisher’s)
qualifications to write on this topic? Has the author
written on the topic previously?
Has the information been reviewed in some way, such
as by an editor or through peer review? Was it self-
published or posted on a personal site? Explain your
answer.
*Websites Only: Does the URL reveal anything about
the author or source?

Accuracy: the reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the content

Is the information supported by evidence? Explain your
answer.
Does the information in this resource agree with other
resources you have found and your own personal
knowledge? Explain your answer.
Are there citations or a bibliography included?
Hyperlinks to other articles or information (not to sell
you something)? What does this tell you?
Are there spelling, grammar, or other typographical
errors? What does this tell you?
*Websites Only: Do all the links work?

Purpose: the reason the information exists

Do the creator(s) make their intentions or purpose clear?
Explain your answer.
Who is the intended audience? Is this designed for
general readers or academic readers?
Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
Explain your answer.
Are there any political, ideological, cultural, religious,
or personal bias? Explain your answer.
Is the creator/author trying to sell you something?
Explain your answer.

Source 2:
Provide an MLA citation for your source here:

What type of source is it? _ Scholarly Article _ Magazine

_ Newspaper _ Book _ Website
Timeliness: the “Newness” of the information
When was the information published or posted?
Is it recent enough to be relevant to your thesis? Why or
why not?
* Websites Only: How recently has the website been
updated?

Relevance: the importance of the information for your needs

Does the information relate to your topic or answer your
question? Explain your answer.
Is the information at an appropriate level? Explain your
answer.
Would you be comfortable using this source for a
research paper? Explain your answer.

Authority: the source of the information

Who is the creator or author? What can you find about
them in the source itself or through a web search?
What are the author’s (or if no author, publisher’s)
credentials or organizational affiliations? Is the author a
professor or other expert? Does the author have a degree
related to the topic?
What are the author’s (or if no author, publisher’s)
qualifications to write on this topic? Has the author
written on the topic previously?
Has the information been reviewed in some way, such
as by an editor or through peer review? Was it self-
published or posted on a personal site? Explain your
answer.
*Websites Only: Does the URL reveal anything about
the author or source?

Accuracy: the reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the content

Is the information supported by evidence? Explain your
answer.
Does the information in this resource agree with other
resources you have found and your own personal
knowledge? Explain your answer.
Are there citations or a bibliography included?
Hyperlinks to other articles or information (not to sell
you something)? What does this tell you?
Are there spelling, grammar, or other typographical
errors? What does this tell you?
*Websites Only: Do all the links work?

Purpose: the reason the information exists

Do the creator(s) make their intentions or purpose clear?
Explain your answer.
3
 Who is the intended audience? Is this designed for
general readers or academic readers?
Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
Explain your answer.
Are there any political, ideological, cultural, religious,
or personal bias? Explain your answer.
Is the creator/author trying to sell you something?
Explain your answer.

Source 3:
Provide an MLA citation for your source here:

What type of source is it? _ Scholarly Article _ Magazine

_ Newspaper _ Book _ Website

Timeliness: the “Newness” of the information

When was the information published or posted?
Is it recent enough to be relevant to your thesis? Why or
why not?
* Websites Only: How recently has the website been
updated?

Relevance: the importance of the information for your needs

Does the information relate to your topic or answer your
question? Explain your answer.
Is the information at an appropriate level? Explain your
answer.
Would you be comfortable using this source for a
research paper? Explain your answer.

Authority: the source of the information

Who is the creator or author? What can you find about
them in the source itself or through a web search?
What are the author’s (or if no author, publisher’s)
credentials or organizational affiliations? Is the author a
professor or other expert? Does the author have a degree
related to the topic?
What are the author’s (or if no author, publisher’s)
qualifications to write on this topic? Has the author
written on the topic previously?
Has the information been reviewed in some way, such
as by an editor or through peer review? Was it self-
published or posted on a personal site? Explain your
answer.
*Websites Only: Does the URL reveal anything about
the author or source?

Accuracy: the reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the content

Is the information supported by evidence? Explain your
answer.
Does the information in this resource agree with other
resources you have found and your own personal
knowledge? Explain your answer.
Are there citations or a bibliography included?
Hyperlinks to other articles or information (not to sell
you something)? What does this tell you?
Are there spelling, grammar, or other typographical
errors? What does this tell you?
*Websites Only: Do all the links work?

Purpose: the reason the information exists

Do the creator(s) make their intentions or purpose clear?
Explain your answer.
Who is the intended audience? Is this designed for
general readers or academic readers?
Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
Explain your answer.
Are there any political, ideological, cultural, religious,
or personal bias? Explain your answer.
Is the creator/author trying to sell you something?
Explain your answer.