We know how important it is for students to evaluate a source carefully before trusting its information… but when it comes to teaching the process, there are just too many acronyms to choose from! CRAAP? CARS? SIFT? Which one to choose?
Southern California teacher librarian Suzanne Sannwald has opted for a new abbreviation, one that brings home the concept of lateral reading for students: using other sources to determine the validity of the one they actually want to use in their work. Meet the WAAC method, which helps students conduct research on their own research. In her School Library Connection article, Sannwald offers a new, student-friendly way to evaluate a source based on an assessment of:
W: Website (or publication)
A: Author (or organization)
A: Article summary
C: Claim (or specific evidence)
Use Sannwald’s strategy to help students gain a stronger understanding of their research, and emerge with more confidence in their own work. Then, try out the provided worksheet in your class to help students put the strategy into practice.
These resources are featured as part of School Library Connection’s Information Literacy Series, a multipart exploration of innovative tools and strategies to help you teach students to spot misinformation online. Click here to learn more about School Library Connection!
