- Check with SiteAdvisor to make sure the site is safe from viruses, etc.
- Check the summary to make sure the site is relevant.
- Check the URL to get an idea of who made the site.
Who?
Who is the author? Who is backing them? Do other reliable people say the author/organization is reliable? (Hint: You can do a web search.)
Why?
Why was the page put up? To sell you something? To change your mind? To entertain you? To trick you? To educate you?
What?
What makes them know enough about your subject to answer your questions correctly? Do you know where or how they got their information? What makes the author or organization an authority?
When?
When was the page last updated? Does that matter for your topic?
Practice:
Would the sites below be reliable for a paper? Why or why not?
1) http://www.dhmo.org
2) http://www.ihr.org/
3) http://loc.gov
4) http://www.fcps.edu/OrangeHuntES/students/98-99/pere/17c.htm
Another approach:
Saratoga Library uses RADCAB.
