Evaluating Web Resources

 

Is the Internet source scholarly?
  • Uses footnotes or bibliography
  • Written by scholars and researchers for scholars and researchers
  • Provides original research
  • Published by a "professional organization"
  • Contains no advertising

Does the Internet source include these components?

  1. Authority
    • Who created this WWW site?
    • Who is hosting the WWW site?
    • What are their qualifications?
  2. Accuracy
    • Is there a bibliography or list of works cited?
    • Is there any bias evident?
    • How does it compare with print sources?
    • How complete are the links?
    • Most relevant or more available?
  3. Currency
  • When was the WWW site created?
  • When was it last updated?
  • Is the information itself current?

Evaluate these websites
Asian Studies
Some of the Things I've Learned along the Way
Attention Deficit Disorder & Hyperactivity Success
Dietary Guidelines for Americans

 

How to Cite Internet resources?

Structure: Author. Title of item. [Online] Available http://address/filename, date of document or download.
Example: DiStefano, Vince. Guidelines for better writing. [Online] Available http://www.usa.net/~vinced/home/better-writing.html, January 9, 1996.

For more information see Electronic Styles A Handbook for Citing Electronic Information by Xia Li and Nancy B. Crane on RESERVE at Circulation or refer to the Research Writng page.


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Last updated in Fall 2007
Created and maintained by Miao Hong
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