Evaluating Web Sources

It is easy to find information on the internet. Just type ANYTHING into a search engine and there you have it: millions of websites! But skilled searchers now how to harness the power of the internet to find sources that are reliable and useful, not just plentiful.

Knowing how to critically evaluate information is an essential skill that you will use every day: at school, at work, and in life. There is no easy formula for evaluating information sources. However, this short video will introduce you to some important elements and questions to ask that will guide you through the process.

We’re going to use an acronym, as an easy way to remember these elements: A. S. A.

P. As we go through each letter, keep in mind that these are questions to explore and not a checklist. Authority: Is there an author’s name?

If so, consider their experience, education, and expertise on the topic. Consider the publication, too. If you’ve never heard of it, Google it to find out more.

Sources: If information is being presented as fact, the author should provide evidence for their claims. Look for a list of references, footnotes, quotes within the article, hyperlinks, etc. , that tell you where the information comes from.

If sources are included, are they credible sources? Age: When was the information published? How much does the date matter for your topic?

Purpose: Why is the information here? Is it to inform, education, entertain, or sell? How does its purpose influence the information?

Can you find evidence of bias? A final reminder: we don't evaluate to determine if a source is a "good" source or a "bad" source, but rather, we are trying to determine how well that source fits our needs. Using the ASAP method, we can gather the information we need to decide if a given source is appropriate for our current purpose.