A1 - CARP Template - Use this template to evaluate your source of information
Title:
Is this
journal
newspaper
book
Currency
When was the information published or
posted?
Has the information been revised or
updated? When?
Does your topic require current
information, or will older sources work as
well?
Websites – are the links functional?
Authority
Who is the author/creator?
What are their credentials? Are they
qualified to write about this topic? Can
they be contacted?
Are they affiliated with any groups or
organizations?
Who is the publisher or sponsor?
Relevance & Reliability
Does the information relate to your topic
or help answer your question?
Is the information at the appropriate level
for your research?
Who is the intended audience?
Where does the information come from?
Does the author provide references or
sources?
Has the information been reviewed or
refereed? By whom?
Do you feel comfortable using this source
in your research? Would your teacher
accept it?
Purpose/Point of View
What is the information meant to do to
the reader?
Inform, teach, sell, entertain,
persuade?
organisation (but what kind of
organisation are they?)
Does the author or sponsor clearly state
their intentions or purpose?
Is the information fact or opinion?
Propaganda?
Does the point of view seem to be
objective and impartial?
What biases might the author or sponsor
have?
Political, ideological, cultural,
religious, institutional, personal?
Are there any ads? How do they relate to
the topic being covered?
Websites – what does the URL and/or
domain tell you about the purpose?
Examples: .com – commercial; .gov –
government; .org –organisation
Write some summarising statements here for your source of information to explain why you would (or would not)
recommend this source of information.
Currency
Authority
Relevance &
Reliability
Purpose/Point of
View