Evaluating Sources

Is the source reliable or unreliable?

Why?

Authority

Objectivity

Coverage

Accuracy

Currency

Authority

Is the document author or site sponsor

clearly identified?

Does the site identify the occupation,

position, education, experience, or other

credentials of the author?

Does the home page or a clear link from

the home page reveal the author’s or

sponsor’s motivation for establishing the

site?

Does the site provide contact information

for the author or sponsor such as an

email or organization address?

Objectivity

Is the site’s purpose clear?

Is the site explicit about declaring its

point of view?

Does the site indicate whether the

author is affiliated with a specific

organization, institution, or association?

Does the site indicate whether it is

directed toward a specific audience?

Coverage

Are the topics covered by the site clear?

Does the site exhibit a suitable depth and

comprehensiveness for its purpose?

Is sufficient evidence provided to support

the ideas and opinions presented?

Accuracy

Are the sources of information stated?

Do the facts appear to be accurate?

Can you verify this information by

comparing this source with other sources

in the field?

Currency

Are dates included in the Web site?

Do the dates apply to the material itself,

to its placement on the Web, or to the

time the site was last revised and

updated?

Is the information current, or at least still

relevant, for the site’s purpose? For your

purpose?

Who placed this piece on the Web and why?

Each kind of website has a different purpose

.com

Commercial site

Purpose is to promote the view of a

corporation or business

.org

Nonprofit organizations or advocacy groups

Purpose is

To provide accurate, balanced information

related to organization’s mission work

To promote political views

To advocate a cause

.edu

Associated with a college or university

Purpose varies to include school promotion,

strong advocacy on student issues, objective

and scholarly research

.gov or .mil

Sponsored by a government agency or

military unit

Provide basic data about government policy,

bills in Congress, economic forecasts, census

data, etc.

Purpose varies to include objective

information or promotion of agency’s agenda

What is Google Scholar?

Attempts to duplicate services of licensed

databases

Doesn’t make public names of journals it

indexes

Unsure whether source is current or

thorough

Useful substitute for researchers who don’t

have access to online databases licensed by

university libraries

Highly prized concept in academia

Refers to rigorous and competitive

selection process by which scholarly

manuscripts are chosen for publication

Judged on rigor and accuracy of research

and significance and value of argument

Index articles appearing in thousands of

periodicals

Restricted to fee-paying customers

Can’t be accessed through web search

engines

Academic Search Complete (Ebsco)

LexisNexis

JSTOR

Is the source reliable or unreliable?

Why?

Journals due

4/30

Grammar Final

Review for writing final

5/7@7-9PM

Writing final