How do I make sure that I'm choosing web sources that my professor will find appropriate?
If your professor allows you to include information found on websites in your assignment, it's important to evaluate whether that information is appropriate and trustworthy. Use the following criteria to evaluate web-based information.
Currency
Can you determine when the page or document was created/updated? Is the date recent enough for your topic?
Relevance
Does the information answer your question? Is it at an appropriate level?
Accuracy
Where does the information come from? How reliable is the information? Is the language unbiased and free of emotion? Are there spelling, grammar, or other errors? Does it lack citations?
Authority
What are the author's credentials? What kind of organization sponsors or supports the site?
| Government |
https://www.ec.gc.ca |
https://www.science.gov |
| Educational |
https://www.harvard.edu |
https://www.concordia.ca |
| Organizations |
https://www.environlink.org |
https://www.greenpeace.org |
| Commercial |
https://www.phytotech.com |
https://www.microbes.info |
Purpose
Is the author's purpose to sell, persuade, entertain, teach, or inform? Does the point of view appear objective and impartial? Is the information fact, opinion, or propaganda?
