Take the time and evaluate resources before you use them for your assignments.
Don't believe everything you read. Ask some critical questions about every website:
Currency
- Does it indicate when the page was written or last updated?
- Are there dead links?
- Is the information current enough for your topic?
Relevance
- Does the information directly relate to your topic?
- Is the level and depth of the information appropriate?
- Who is the intended audience?
- Did you compare a variety of sources to determine which one works best?
Accuracy
- Is the information supported by evidence or sources that can be verified?
- Is there a bibliography / references list?
- Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
- Is the information free of spelling mistakes, poor grammar, and typos?
Authority
- Does it indicate who wrote the information?
- Is an author or institution responsible for the page?
- Are the author’s credentials given?
- Is there evidence that the author is an expert on the subject?
Purpose
- Does the content seem biased? (one-sided or extreme)
- Is it written to inform? (not to sell, entertain or persuade)
- Are there ads on the site?
