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Humanities Research Guide

Evaluate your Sources

Before you use a website -- or any source -- for an assignment, consider:

  • Purpose: Why was it created?
  • Authority: Who created this material? What are the author’s credentials?
  • Scope/Coverage: What does it include and leave out?
  • Accuracy: Is the information provided correct?
  • Currency: When was it created or last updated?
  • Objectivity: What is the author’s or sponsor’s point of view?

There are many variations on this technique -- here are links to a few of them.

Evaluating Web Sites

Google Advanced Search

This video describes the features of Google Advanced Search, which can help you focus your search results on exactly what you need.