Evaluating Online SourcesFreshman II

Why do we have to evaluate online sources?

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

There are 10 aspects of an online source that should be checked

PurposeWhy was the page created?

- To inform-Entertain-Share information-Advertise-Influence views (advocacy)-Provide updated information (news)-Personal enjoyment

Sponsor/OwnerOn what type of Internet provider or

organization does the page reside?

-Government agency -Educational -Business/Company -Association (professional, trade,

entertainment) -News Bureau -Personal (individual)

Organization and Content

Is the page organized and focused?

Is the text well-written?Is it well-designed?

Bias

Is the author biased?Is he neutral?What is his stance towards the

issue at hand?

Date of Production/Revision

When was the Web page produced?

When was it last revised?

UsefulnessIs the Web page relevant to the

current research project?

Authority/AuthorWho is the author of this page?Is the author an expert in this

field?How accurate is his/her

information?Is bias evident in the text?

What is it?Web-only pageJournal articleGovernment sourceBlogPersonal home page….etc?

AudienceTo what type of audience is the

web page directed?

CoverageHow far does the page cover

your topic? Comprehensively Partially It is just an overview

Taken from:Colorado State UniversityQuestia Newsletter