Website Eval

1. Website Evaluation
Source Validity

2. Why is it important to evaluate
source validity?

3. How can I evaluate source validity?

4. Web Address
Gives us clues on who wrote it, and why they wrote it.
Company .com
U.S. Government .gov
U.S. Military .mil
Network .net
Non-Profit .org
Country .uk, etc
Personal Website www.MrsCragle.com, etc

5. Author
• The most credible sources list authors, and those authors have authority on
the topic.

6. Purpose: P.I.E.
• Persuade: Is the website trying to convince you or something, or to sway
your opinion one way or another?
• Inform: Does the website present just facts?
• Entertain: Is the website trying to keep your attention solely for
entertainment purposes?

7. Publication
• Date: What was the original publication date? Has it been updated since?
• Broken Links: Do all of the links on the site still work?
• Current Information: Is there clearly outdated information?

8. Note Taking
Once you have determined that a site is valid and credible, you may proceed with note taking
• Paraphrase by putting into your own terms
• Do not copy word for word
• Incomplete sentences are okay, and often help you avoid copying verbatim
• Focus on essential facts that will help build your argument

9. Citing Sources
Why is this so important?

10. Citing Sources
• Once you have determined that your source is credible, and you have taken
information in the form of notes, you MUST cite it.
• Gather as much of the following information as possible:
• Author (last name, first name)
• Title of Webpage
• Name of Organization
• Date created or updated
• URL (Web Address)
• Day, Month, Year of access