Argument Analysis and the CRAAP Test

APA Citation: (make sure it is in PROPER format, including using a hanging indentation)

Stress, sleep, and performance on standardized tests: understudied pathways

to the achievement gap
Who is the author? What credibility does s/he have for writing this article?

There are multiple authors: Jennifer A. Heissel, Dorainne J. Levy, Emma K. Adam, Jennifer A. Heissel – Northwestern
University, Dorainne J. Levy – Indiana University, Emma K. Adam. They are all authors and professors at northwestern
university
Does the author have an argument? If yes, what is the main idea? (Include a quotation from the article that CLEARLY
expresses the main idea)

The authors argument is that standardized tests creates a lot of stress to students

What reasons does the author give to support his or her main idea? (What claims are made to support the argument?)
(include ALL claims made in chronological order from the piece)

The author supports it with empirics showing increase in cortisol due to standardized testing

What evidence does the author use to support these reasons/claims? Is it credible? Is it biased? (uses quotes and
paraphrases, at least ONE per claim)

The author took a survey of random students taking these tests, yes it is credible, no it is not biased. “This study examined
whether children responded physiologically to high-stakes testing in naturalistic settings”

Are these reasons and evidence convincing? Why or why not? Are there implicit assumptions? What are they? (be sure
to explain why the evidence is or is not convincing AND address any assumptions the author(s) made)

Yes, I personally experience stress from standardized testing so I feel I can relate to the study and vouch for it as well.
There are no implicit assumptions only assertive claims.

What do you think was the author’s purpose in writing this piece? (To inform? To entertain? To persuade? Remember,
they can have more than 1 purpose. EXPLAIN how it achieves that purpose)

The authors purpose was to show a study of how standardized tests create stress.

Are the reasons presented in a logical order, as a line of reasoning? Do the reasons clearly link to one another and to the
conclusion/thesis? Explain. (Does it make sense? Is it persuasive?)

Yes the reasons are presented in a logical order showing the empirics and statistics. The reasons are clear and all link to
the general thesis

Does the author make a reasoned evaluation of other people’s views that contradict their own? (Does he or she address
counter-arguments?) Explain. (Make sure to explain what counterclaims are made AND how the author addresses them)

No the author does not address other views because it is mostly just an empirical study.

What are the implications if the reader accepts this argument? (What would the impact be on the real world/you
personally if you were to accept the argument presented)
The implication is that the reader acknowledges the negative impacts of standardized testing and participates in the
activism against it.

How CURRENT is the information? (When was it published/posted? Has it been updated or revised? If it is an older
source, is the information still good?)

TYPE ANSWER HERE

How RELEVANT is the information? (Does it relate to your topic? Who is the intended audience? Is the information at an
appropriate level? Have you looked at a variety of sources? Would you feel comfortable citing this source?)

The information is pretty relevant, it shows a solid foundational reason to be anti-testing. The intended audience is
students and parents of students taking these tests

What is the AUTHORITY of the source? (Who is the author/publisher/source? What credentials does the author have? Is
the author qualified to write on the topic? Is there contact information for the author? If from a website, what is the
URL?)

The publisher is from northwestern university, so very credible.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2332858417713488#articleCitationDownloadContainer

How ACCURATE is the information? (Where does the information come from? Is it supported by evidence? Has the
information been reviewed or refereed? Can you verify it with another source? How biased is the language and tone?
Are there spelling, grammar, or typing errors?)

The information obviously is not 100% accurate it is just a large survey of students

What PURPOSE does the source serve? (Is it teaching? Informing? Entertaining? Selling? Persuading? Is the author’s
intention clear? Does it contain fact, opinion, or propaganda? Is the point of view objective and impartial? Does it have
political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases?)

The purpose is to inform with statistical empirics that show standardized testing causes stress.