Source Evaluation - Answer Keys

Grade 8 ELA | FL B.E.S.T. Standard: ELA.8.R.2.3

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Student Concept Worksheet Answers

Question Answer
1 B. A NASA.gov article by climate scientists with citations
The NASA article has authority (climate scientists), accuracy (citations), and credibility (.gov domain). The blog has no author and makes unsupported claims.
2 B. To sell a product
The phrases "Buy," "Order now," and "save 50%" clearly indicate the purpose is commercial/sales, not informational.
3 Sample answers: "Obviously," "destroying young minds," "any reasonable person," "terrible games," "should never"
Any of these loaded words/phrases indicate bias. They express strong opinions rather than presenting facts objectively.
4 Authority (MD from Johns Hopkins) and Accuracy (15 citations to peer-reviewed studies)
The doctor's credentials establish authority, and the peer-reviewed citations demonstrate accuracy and verifiability.

Practice Worksheet Answers

Question Answer
1 A, B, C, and D - ALL of the above
Source A fails all criteria: no date (Currency), no author credentials (Authority), no evidence (Accuracy), and selling a product (Purpose).
2 Sample: 1) Source B has an author with credentials (Dr. Sarah Chen, MD) 2) Source B cites specific research with statistics 3) Source B is from a reputable organization (American Academy of Pediatrics) 4) Source B provides a recent date (2023)
3 "completely safe," "the boost you need," "Don't listen to the haters"
These phrases use exaggeration ("completely") and emotional appeal ("haters") rather than factual language.
4 Source B reports health risks (3x more likely to have sleep disturbances, 2x more likely to experience anxiety, cardiovascular concerns), directly contradicting the "completely safe" claim.
5 Source C is: a personal blog / opinion piece / tertiary source. Source D is: a peer-reviewed academic study / secondary source / scholarly journal.
6 Personal experience is anecdotal (one person's experience) and cannot be generalized. Source D studied 5,000 adolescents, providing statistically significant data that represents broader patterns. One person's experience doesn't prove anything about the general population.
7 Balanced reporting shows the author is presenting information fairly, not pushing an agenda. It acknowledges complexity and nuance, which indicates the author is trying to inform rather than persuade. Sources that only show one side may be hiding information that contradicts their position.
8 B. Source D only
Source D is peer-reviewed academic research from a university with methodology and data. Source C is an anonymous blog post with only personal opinion.
9 "Wisely," "much-needed," "neglected" - these words reveal the author supports the park decision
10 "Controversial," "wastes," "critics say" - these words reveal the author opposes the park decision
11 Sample: "City Council Approves New Park Project" or "City Council Votes to Build Park in Local Neighborhood"
Objective headlines state facts without loaded words that reveal opinion.
12 Sample questions: 1) Who conducted the study? Are they nutrition experts? (Authority) 2) Was the study funded by a chocolate company? (Purpose/Bias) 3) Was it published in a peer-reviewed journal? (Accuracy) 4) Do other reputable sources confirm this finding? (Corroboration) 5) What exactly did the study measure and how? (Evidence)

FAST Format Quiz Answers

Question Answer
1 B. To persuade readers to adopt a plant-based diet
The emotional language, commands ("it's about time!"), and moral judgments ("the right thing to do") indicate persuasive intent.
2 B. "Meat is basically poison for your body"
This extreme statement uses emotional language ("poison") and exaggeration without evidence - a clear example of bias.
3 B. Presents research-based evidence and acknowledges limitations
Text B cites a meta-analysis of 47 studies, provides specific findings, and acknowledges that plant-based diets "require careful planning" - showing balanced, evidence-based reporting.
4 C. Text B found that moderate meat consumption did not significantly increase health risks
Text B directly states that "moderate consumption of lean meats, fish, and dairy... did not significantly increase health risks."
5 D. All of the above
Text C fails Authority (company selling the service), Accuracy ("completely safe" without evidence), and Purpose (selling a product).
6 B. Misleading, because NASA reports a 98% reliability rate with possible anomalies
A 98% reliability rate means 1 in 50 flights may have anomalies - not "completely safe." The claim omits significant risk information.
7 B. Text D comes from an independent government agency with no financial interest
NASA has no profit motive for space tourism, while GalaxyVoyages profits from sales. Independence increases credibility.
8 C. Using both texts and noting that Text C has potential bias due to its commercial purpose
Good researchers consider multiple sources and account for bias. Acknowledging Text C's commercial interest while using Text D's data shows critical thinking.
9 See rubric and sample response below.
10 See rubric and sample response below.

Question 9 Scoring Rubric (Source Comparison)

Score Criteria
2 Correctly identifies Text B as more credible with TWO specific reasons using CRAAP criteria and text evidence
1 Identifies Text B as more credible but provides only ONE reason or lacks specific text evidence
0 Incorrectly identifies Text A as more credible OR provides no valid reasoning
Sample 2-Point Response for Question 9:
Text B is more credible than Text A based on the CRAAP test. First, Authority: Text B is written by Dr. Maria Gonzalez, PhD, and published in a scientific journal, while Text A is from a magazine with just a "staff writer." Second, Accuracy: Text B cites a meta-analysis of 47 peer-reviewed studies and provides specific data, while Text A makes extreme claims like "meat is basically poison" without citing any research. Text B also acknowledges limitations of plant-based diets, showing balanced reporting rather than one-sided persuasion.

Question 10 Scoring Rubric (Bias vs. Unreliability)

Score Criteria
2 Clearly explains difference between bias and unreliability, states that biased sources can contain useful information, and provides relevant text examples
1 Explains difference but weak examples OR states biased sources can be useful without adequate explanation
0 Does not demonstrate understanding of the difference between bias and unreliability
Sample 2-Point Response for Question 10:
A biased source favors one perspective but can still contain accurate information, while an unreliable source provides false or unverifiable information. For example, Text A (VeganLife Magazine) is biased toward plant-based diets - it uses emotional language and only presents benefits. However, some facts it mentions (like greenhouse gas emissions from meat production) could be accurate. The bias means we should verify those facts elsewhere. Text C from the space tourism company is both biased AND unreliable because it makes false claims ("completely safe") that NASA data contradicts. A biased source can still be useful if you recognize the bias and verify the facts, but an unreliable source that spreads false information should not be used at all.
FAST Success Kit | Grade 8 | FL B.E.S.T. Standard: ELA.8.R.2.3
Answer Key - For Teacher Use Only