For your Google Map entries, you should find at least two sources (primary or secondary) from which to draw information. As a group, you should use sources to help answer background information like: who, what, where, and how. Historical significance should be something that your group determines on your own, using your critical thinking skills, making connections to the larger course’s themes in politics, economics, society, and culture.

At least ONE of your sources must be a book, a scholarly published article, or a printed encyclopedia. Your other source may be a digital resource like a reputable website (Smithsonian, Louvre, University websites, etc – NEVER a random, fan-based website).

There are four steps to source evaluation: 1. Find a source; 2. Evaluate the source; 3. Justify the source; 4. Use the source. This worksheet will help you with steps 2 and 3 (evaluate and justify). Not all information that is accessed on the Internet is reliable information. Before you use a source you find - whether in the library or on the internet - you need to evaluate the source using FIVE CRITERIA.

Source One (Required):

1. Authority:
   1. How did you find this source? What was your method to finding this? Was this the first source you found?
   2. Was that a good method? Why or why not?
   3. If it’s an online source:
      1. What is the name of the larger website your source is a part of? What type of a website is this? Is it an online encyclopedia? An e-book? A personal blog?
      2. Does the type of website the source it is on affect your source’s content?
   4. Who is the source’s author?
   5. Is that author an expert on the subject? How do you know? If you’re uncertain, does this make you question the validity of the information the article presents?
2. Objectivity: Is this fact or is it opinion? Is it biased? How did you determine this?
3. Accuracy: Where did the author seem to get the information? Does he/she cite to other reliable sources? Can you find this same information elsewhere?
4. Currency: When was the book/article published or when was the website last updated? Is it current enough?
5. Having gone through the above criteria, is this a “good” source? Explain why in a few sentences.

Source Two (Required):

1. Authority:
   1. How did you find this source? What was your method to finding this? Was this the first source you found?
   2. Was that a good method? Why or why not?
   3. If it’s an online source:
      1. What is the name of the larger website your source is a part of? What type of a website is this? Is it an online encyclopedia? An e-book? A personal blog?
      2. Does the type of website the source it is on affect your source’s content?
   4. Who is the source’s author?
   5. Is that author an expert on the subject? How do you know? If you’re uncertain, does this make you question the validity of the information the article presents?
2. Objectivity: Is this fact or is it opinion? Is it biased? How did you determine this?
3. Accuracy: Where did the author seem to get the information? Does he/she cite to other reliable sources? Can you find this same information elsewhere?
4. Currency: When was the book/article published or when was the website last updated? Is it current enough?
5. Having gone through the above criteria, is this a “good” source? Explain why in a few sentences.

For more on using Google Maps in the classroom, read Julia M. Gossard's post on AHA Today, "Mapping the Early Modern World: Using Google Maps in the Classroom."