Evaluating Websites

What are we looking for? Accuracy (Reliability) – the reliability of the material itself and to its use of proper documentation. Credibility (Authority)– the credentials of the person or organization responsible for the website. Objectivity – the degree of bias that a website exhibits. Currency – how up to date a website is.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/Pages/default.aspx Rule #1: What is the URL? Does it end with an academically acceptable path? Rule #2: What is the title? Does it sound credible? Would you feel comfortable using this title in your paper as support? Rule #3: Is there an “About Us” page? If so, do you agree with their mission/goals? If not, is the person/organization/website well known enough not to need this information?

ACA-USA http://www.aca-usa.org/recovery.htm Rule #4: What does it look like? Does it look reliable? Rule #5: Is the information on the website useable? Is it credible/accurate?

Chapter 6: Why We Should Reject the Disease Concept of Alcoholism http://www.indiana.edu/~engs/cbook/chap6.html Rule #6: Who is the author? Is he/she an authority in the field? Google! Rule #7: Are the sources used in the body of the website documented? Is there a bibliography/works cited section?

Mayo Clinic http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/alcoholism/DS00340 Rule #8: When was the website published? Is it recent? Does the date impact the accuracy of the information? Rule #9: How is the website organized? Is it user friendly? Rule #10: Colors and advertisements – does it look professional? What companies/organizations are they allowing/supporting advertisements from? Compare to: http://www.emedicinehealth.com/alcoholism/article_em.htm

Go with your gut! If all else fails, if you are unsure, or you are riding the fence when deciding to use or not to use a website – err on the side of common sense! If it FEELS like it isn’t a good source –chances are it isn’t! The Internet is VAST; therefore, go with the websites that you are CONFIDENT in displaying YOUR credibility and authority as an author. If you are choosey in life about the things that represent you, then be choosey here, too!

Put ‘em to the test! http://www.baldwinresearch.com/alcoholism.cfm http://www.new-life-in-recovery.com/alcoholism-disease.html http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/alcoholism/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier

MLA for Internet Sources A Webpage (pg. 224): Last name, First name. “Webpage (title of article).” Website (title that doesn’t change). Publisher (look towards the very bottom for the copyright symbol), Date of Publication (at the beginning or can be directly following the copyright symbol) – this is written as Day Month Year (16 Feb. 2011). Web. Date of Access (the date you found it) – this is written as Day Month Year (16 Feb. 2011). <URL>.

Example Mayo Clinic Staff. “Definition.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 6 May 2010. Web. 16 Jan. 2012. <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/alcoholism/DS00340>.

MLA for Internet Sources A Newspaper (pg. 226): Last name, First name. “Title of the Article.” Title of the Newspaper. Publisher, Date of Publication (at the beginning of the article). Web. Date of Access. <URL>. A Scholarly Journal (pg. 226): Last name, First name. “Title of the Article.” Title of the Journal vol#.issue# (Date of Publication): pg#s. Web. Date of Access. <URL>.

Formatting Notes The first line is always flush with the margin; the second (+) lines are indented. Use the hanging indent feature in MS Word. To do this, type the entire Works Cited page. Highlight all entries. On the ruler, drag the BOTTOM triangle over to the .5 hash mark.

Formatting Notes When typing entries, there is only ONE space after any type of punctuation (. , :). Make sure when typing you are also paying VERY close attention to the types of punctuation – different sources have punctuation in different places. DO NOT number entries. Alphabetize by the first letter of the entry, even if it does not have an author and begins with a title. Titles that begin with a number go at the end and are organized numerically. Dates are written as DAY MONTH (abbreviate when you can) YEAR (16 Feb. 2011). Double space entries and between entries. The Works Cited page should be titled as so, and should begin on a CLEAN page. To do this, just hit “enter” after the last sentence of your conclusion until you are on a new page.