English 1A

Evaluating Websites and Other Sources

Not every source we find is going to be used in our papers. Some articles are too old and outdated, some are written by people who have later been discredited, some are heavily biased, and some just aren't as relevant to our topic as they seem at first glance. 

How do we evaluate if a source is relevant, accurate, current, or unbiased?

Start looking vertically. Scroll through your article to find:

• Who is the author?
• Was it written for a specific purpose, organization, company, or audience?
• When was it written?
• Does it include references or a works cited list?

If you cannot determine the credibility of the information you are using, especially from a website, it's best not to use it to factually support your argument. Using biased or inaccurate information in your paper can negatively impact your grade. 

Look at the 5Ws method of evaluating sources. Who, What, When, Where and Why?

Then look horizontally. Open up new tabs and search outside the article for:

• Who the author is, what else they've written, what they're an expert in
• Who the publisher and/or sponsor is, what are their interests and goals?
• Are there any reviews about the book, is the article referenced in other work?
• Other viewpoints, opinions, or interpretations of events. Did your author leave anything out to "prove" their point?

SIFT (Stop, Investigate, Find and Trace) is a method of evaluating information sources that looks at the context of the information. Review its source, references, hyperlinks, and quotes. Investigate the author and publisher by researching further, using external sources. This is also known as "reading laterally." Watch the videos below for more information. 

Check Yourself with Reading Laterally

Reading Laterally with the University of Louisville

How to Find Better Information Online