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Evaluating Resources on the Web

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Tip #5: Information from "TRADITIONAL" sources

Questions to ask:

What information on the topic is available from traditional sources such as newspapers, magazines, encyclopedias or library resources on the web?

  • Do these pages support or contradict facts or opinions on the author's page?
  • Do these pages add any new information or perspectives on the topic?
  • Are these sources likely to be more reliable than the author's page?

Why?

Pages on the web that are published in print by publishers or by libraries go through a traditional evaluation process before being published and provide a more dependable standard for evaluating an author or a page.

How?

Check out libraries, professional associations, Biographies, Bibliographies, encyclopedia's and the like online. Look for publications by the author or organization in traditional formats.

Example:

University libraries include 21CIF materials and tools in their lists of resources, a sign of credibility.