Explain With Evidence

Worksheet Description

The “Evaluating Credibility” worksheet is designed as a tool to guide students through the critical process of assessing the reliability of a source. It focuses on several key aspects of credibility, including the author’s respect within their field, the source’s currency, objectivity, and the likely perception of credibility by the audience.

For each of these aspects, students are provided with a scale ranging from “strongly agree/approve” to “strongly disagree/disapprove,” allowing them to rate each criterion. This encourages students to not only make a judgment but also to substantiate their opinions with explanations, fostering a deeper understanding of each element of credibility.

The worksheet is structured to help students build strong evaluative skills by prompting them to back up their ratings with evidence, ensuring that their assessments are not based on assumptions but on critical analysis. This practice is essential in developing discerning readers and informed consumers of information, which is increasingly important in an age of information overload.

By completing this worksheet, students are not only learning how to evaluate sources but also to articulate the reasoning behind their evaluations, a skill that is valuable across all disciplines and in everyday life. The clear and organized layout of the worksheet makes it a practical tool for classroom activities, homework assignments, or as part of a larger research project.