Procedure

1. Have students search for and document a predetermined number of sources. It helps to start small as they learn to use this model. You also want them to have enough sources to compare and see differences in reliability levels between sources. Three to five sources are good for a start.

2. Then have students look at each source individually and answer the following questions within the RAVEN model:

   • Relevance: Is the information relevant to your topic? Does it provide useful and applicable information?

   • Authority: Who is the author and what are their credentials? Are they an expert in the field?

   • Verifiability: Can you verify the information from other reliable sources? Are there citations or references provided?

   • Evidence: What evidence does this source provide that supports a claim on the topic you are researching?

   • Neutrality: Is the information presented in an unbiased and objective manner, or is there a clear bias or agenda?

3. Have students write down a challenge they encountered while conducting their research. Which part of the RAVEN criteria did they have the hardest time answering? What about their source made this part difficult? Work through these challenges with students as a group or individually to make sure they are interpreting the model correctly before using it to evaluate more sources.