Before you can write your paper, you need to find sources to use.  If you're having difficulty, feel free to ask the Librarian for help.  Remember, also, that although you may easily find a web site that talks about your topic, it may not be a reliable source.  The criteria listed here are designed to help you decide which sites to use and which ones to ignore.

Authorship:

• Who assembled the site?

• What is their organizational affiliation? Does their affiliation indicate the possibility of bias?

• What scholarly or professional credentials do they have that would indicate that the information they present is accurate, or that their opinions on the subject are worthwhile?

• If it is a commercial site or a non-profit organization, is their purpose or bias easily determined (i.e., are they selling you something or trying to sway you to their point of view)?

• Know the meanings of the domain designations:

  • .com: commercial, hosted by a company

  • .org: non-profit organization

  • .mil: military branch of the government

  • .net: usually an internet service provider

  • .gov: governmental web site

  • .edu: educational institution

  • .biz: general business user

  • .info: reference sites (that's the intention; however, currently unrestricted, so beware)

  • .name: individuals personal web sites

  • .pro: professionals such as doctors, lawyers and accountants

  • .coop: business cooperatives

  • .aero: aviation industry web sites

  • .museum: museum web sites

Reliability:

• Is it clear where the author found the information? If you had to, would you be able to track down the original source with the information listed?

• Are there any obvious errors or inconsistencies? Does the information contradict what can be found in other sources?

• Is the information factual? Has the author supported what is being said with evidence? Can it be verified elsewhere, or is it a cleverly disguised opinion? Is the author or organization "tooting their own horn"?

• Was it printed in paper? Oftentimes, paper publications go through much more rigorous editing and review processes than electronic-only ones, meaning they are more likely to be checked for accuracy. That doesn't mean, though, that an item published electronically is automatically inaccurate or one published in paper is automatically accurate. Use your judgment and the other factors to decide whether or not to use the source.

Timeliness:

• When was the site last updated? The amount of updating necessary for accuracy varies by subject, but if a site has not been touched up by its author in the past year, think carefully about whether or not it is still useful.

Appropriateness:

• Is this the best site to get this information? Could you find the same or better information on another Web site?

• Would a more "traditional" source be better? These days, lots of people automatically head for the Web first. Contrary to popular belief, though, not everything is out there on the Internet. You might spend hours trying to track down information on a local company on the Web that is available within seconds from the right reference book on the shelf; make sure you're not ignoring great print sources simply out of the habit of using the 'Net. When in doubt, ask a librarian.