Post on 20-May-2017
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