Source evaluation expanded — CRAAP + diversity + the 6th source type

Quick-share: of the 3 candidate sources you'll evaluate today, which type is each? (book / scholarly / journalistic / website / interview / video?)

• Affirm source-type identification
• Connect: source TYPE matters because each requires a different MLA template

Today we expand source evaluation from G7-fall. You learned CRAAP — currency, authority, accuracy, purpose. This term we ADD: source DIVERSITY (multiple perspectives, not 3 sources that agree) and source-TYPE variety (scholarly + journalistic + primary + multimedia, not 3 websites). We also formalize the 6th MLA Works Cited template (the 5 from G7-fall + new: video/multimedia or interview, depending on what your essay needs). The big idea: synthesis depends on credible AND diverse sources. Three sources that all agree don't generate a synthesis — they generate a chorus. Three sources that disagree productively generate the friction that synthesis requires. The diversity rule: try to include at least one source-type from each category (scholarly, journalistic, primary/interview/multimedia). The CRAAP+ test now has 6 criteria — currency, authority, accuracy, purpose, source-diversity (across the set), source-type variety (across the set).

• CRAAP+ is applied to the SET, not just individuals. The question is whether your sources, together, support synthesis.

  model Currency: A and B are recent enough; C is borderline. Authority: A is journalistic opinion (credible but advocacy); B is scientific consensus (highest authority on this topic); C is anonymous personal opinion (low authority). Accuracy: A and B are verifiable; C is harder to verify. Purpose: A is to persuade; B is to inform; C is unclear. Source-diversity: yes — three perspectives. Source-type variety: yes — opinion + scientific + personal. VERDICT: SET acceptable but C is the weak link; consider replacing with a peer-reviewed journal article or a primary-source interview.

  prompt Look at this candidate source set: (A) a 2018 New York Times opinion column on climate; (B) a 2021 IPCC scientific report; (C) a 2015 personal blog post by a high-school student. Apply CRAAP+ to the SET.
• Most synthesis essays now include at least one multimedia source. Get the template right.

  model VIDEO/MULTIMEDIA template: Creator. 'Title.' Platform, date, URL. Example: 'Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi. "The Danger of a Single Story." TED, July 2009, www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story.' Note: hanging indent; URL at the end; date in MLA format.

  prompt What's the MLA 9th template for the 6th source type — a video/multimedia source like a TED talk?

• Pair-share: of your 3 candidate sources, which is the weakest on CRAAP+ and why?
• Cold Call: name the 6 MLA source types.

M-8-F-RES-04-A Chart

MG-11 anchor: 6-criterion CRAAP+ card with currency/authority/accuracy/purpose/diversity/type-variety. Worked example on reverse: 3-source set evaluation. Print-ready 11x17.

• Apply CRAAP+ to your 3 candidate sources. Fill in the 6-criterion source-evaluation card. Note: if any source fails 2+ criteria, replace it.

  scaffold MG-11 source-evaluation card; example completed in G7-fall portfolio
• Compose MLA 9th Works Cited entries for all 3 sources. Verify against MG-15 6-source-type templates.

  scaffold MG-15 anchor; example entry from G7-fall portfolio

M-8-F-RES-04-B Chart

MG-15 anchor: 6 templates (book / scholarly / journalistic / website / interview / video-multimedia) with worked example per type, hanging-indent demonstration, alphabetization rule. Print-ready 18x24.

• Of your 3 sources, which one earns its place on the synthesis essay's Works Cited and why?
• Format a Works Cited entry for ONE of your sources in correct MLA 9th style.

• Restate: CRAAP+ for source SET; source diversity + variety = synthesis fuel
• Preview lesson 5: synthesis essay launch + Big6 stage 5

• Add 2 more candidate sources to your portfolio. Apply CRAAP+ to each. Bring portfolio to lesson 5.