Online Sources

When to use ‘em…

Mrs. GardnerEnglish I

…and when not to use ‘em!

Wikipedia Geocities Student Produced Blogs Discussion Boards

Evaluate your sources

After a search LOOK at your options Description

Key Words Web Address

HOST NAMES: .org, .com, .net, .edu, .gov

Evaluation of Sources

Authority Accuracy Objectivity Currency Coverage

Adolf Hitler

Dr. Mengele

Auschwitz

Anne Frank

Evaluation of Sources:

Authority Is it clear what company, organization, or

individual is responsible for this site? Are they sponsored by an organization or

paying for the site themselves? Is the company or organization legit?

Evaluation of Sources:

Accuracy Are factual sources clearly presented? Is the text free of grammatical, spelling,

and typographical errors? Are graphs and charts clearly labeled?

Evaluation of Sources:

Objectivity Are the source’s biases and motivations

clear and appropriate? Is there advertising on the site? Is the site provided as a public service?

Evaluation of Sources:

Currency Are there dates on the site to indicate

when the document was written or last revised?

Do the site’s policies explain how information is kept current?

Evaluation of Sources:

Coverage Is the site complete or still under

construction? Is this full text of the material or a

summary? Are the links both current and appropriate

for the site?

Attribution of Sources

Using MLA Style

AuthorLast, AuthorFirst. “Webpage Article Title.” Website Title. 12 July 2003. 7 Dec. 2005. www.msu.edu.

Attribution of Sources

Rule of Thumb URL Date Author

Minimum Requirement! Otherwise DO NOT USE THAT SOURCE

So…

When researching… Look at the host name Go through A-A-O-C-C Make sure you have an author, a date of

publication, and a web address… DUH!