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ENG 210: Advanced Composition (Online): Evaluate Websites

This guide features resources for English 210, Advanced Composition. For help, email online-library@nvcc.edu

How do I?

How to Evaluate Websites - Quick Tips

Look on each website for an "About Us" page to answer some of the following questions:

  • Who is the author?        
  • What are his/her qualifications?
  • Why was the website created?
  • When was it last updated?
  • How reliable is the information?

Apply the CRAAP Test!

(Currency, Relevancy, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose)

Wikipedia and Academic Research

    

How Wikipedia CAN be useful in the beginning stages of research:

Check mark A basic overview of your topic.
Check mark Important names and vocabulary related to your topic.
Check mark Table of contents for some entries, helping you to understand how your topic can be organized.
Check mark

References and other websites that may be helpful (though you will need to evaluate them to be sure).

Why NOT to use Wikipedia for academic research:

X Anyone can contribute to a Wikipedia article.
X No information about authors' credentials and purpose. 

Websites vs Library Databases

This video by Yavapai College Library in Prescott, Arizona demonstrates the different types of information found in Google versus library databases. 

Click the  icon located in the bottom right corner to watch the video in fullscreen mode.