What are the Author's credentials?
Is the author affiliated with an educational institution or prominent organization?
Is the relationship between the author and the institution clear?
Can you find information about the author from the source?
Is there an obvious bias or prejudice?
Are alternate points of view presented?
Is the author's purpose to sell, persuade, entertain or sell?
Domain | Sample Address |
.edu = educational institution | http://docsouth.unc.edu |
.gov = US government site | http://memory.loc.gov |
.org = organization or association | http://www.theaha.org |
.com = commercial site | http://www.historychannel.com |
.museum = museum | http://nc.history.museum |
.net = personal or other site | http://www.californiahistory.net |
Practice Exercise: Bias/Unbiased
Scenario: Congress is currently debating a tax reform proposal that makes filing taxes easier.
Practice Exercise: Expertise
Rank each of these three sources in each area of expertise. Use 1 for the source with the most expertise and 3 for the source with the least.
Knowledge of movies:
___coworker
___sister
___Times review
Knowledge of you and your taste in movies:
___coworker
___sister
___Times review
Using the criteria to determine expertise, read the following choices and choose the source with the most expertise. Which one do you think has the least? Why?
What cell phone you should get:
What type of running shoes to buy:
What to wear to the awards dinner:
Google and Other Search Engines | Library Databases |
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Google and Other Search Engines | Library Databases |
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Google and Other Search Engines | Library Databases |
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Google and Other Search Engines | Library Databases |
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Google and Other Search Engines | Library Databases |
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