I hope the suggested resources and tips in this guide will be helpful. Please let us know if you don't find what you need. Following the link below will give you information on how to meet with, call, or email a librarian.
You might want to sit down for this. It's kind of an emotional tour de force.
"I'll give you a few tips to evaluate websites so you... avoid the bad sources that will make you look like a total loser in front of the peeps." Silly, but not bad, not bad at all.
When evaulating Internet sources, ask yourself the following questions.
Source and Authority
• Can you easily identify who wrote the information and their credentials?
• What more can you learn about the author or institution affiliated with the
page? Look for a biography or “about us” section.
• Can the information be verified through its bibliography or footnotes?
• If online, what does the domain or URL tell you about the authority
and interests of the source of the information? (.gov, .edu, .org, .com, etc.)
Scope and Content
• What is the scope or coverage of the information: Is it brief or in depth?
• Is it written for a popular audience or is it more technical and scholarly?
Purpose and Relevance
• Is it written to inform, explain, or persuade?
• Can you discover any bias to the perspective of the author?
• Does it relate well to information you found in other works?
Timeliness and Accuracy
• When was the information created or last revised?
• Is it up-to-date and accurate?
• Overall, is the information valid and current for the given topic?