LibGuides: PHIL2 & PHIL4 (Delunas): Find Websites

Evaluate Resources Challenge

Challenge yourself.

For one day, critically evaluate all new resources including online, print and media. Change your standard subconcious 30-60 seconds, double it or even triple it, and make it a concious process using the 5 criteria to determine credibility.

How to Evaluate a Source

Every time you look at a web page, there are some key questions you should be asking questions to decide whether or not it's reliable and credible. These can be grouped into major areas: authority, accuracy, objectivity, currency and coverage.

Check out this Cornell University library website about evaluating web pages.

1. Accuracy of Web Documents

Who wrote the page and can you contact him or her?
What is the purpose of the document and why was it produced?
Is this person qualified to write this document?

2. Authority of Web Documents

Who published the document and is it separate from the "Webmaster?"
Check the domain of the document, what institution publishes this document?
Does the publisher list his or her qualifications?

3. Objectivity of Web Documents

What goals/objectives does this page meet?
How detailed is the information?
What opinions (if any) are expressed by the author?

4. Currency of Web Documents

When was it produced?
When was it updated?
How up-to-date are the links (if any)?

5. Coverage of the Web Documents

Are the links (if any) evaluated and do they complement the documents' themes?
Is it all images or a balance of text and images?
Is the information presented cited correctly?

A Few Key Web Resources

ProCon.Org
The Problem We Are Tackling: The constant barrage of inaccurate, misleading, and biased news and information prevents many people from making informed decisions about important social issues.

Our Solution: We provide free, unbiased, and sourced information so people can better understand important social issues and make more informed decisions about them.

Our Mission: Promoting critical thinking, education, and informed citizenship by presenting controversial issues in a straightforward, nonpartisan, and primarily pro-con format.

You can find recommendations of credible / reliable websites for topics covered in Opposing Viewpoints.

Debatabase by International Debate Education Association (IDEA)
The International Debate Education Association (IDEA) is a global network of organisations that value debate as a way to give young people a voice.

We are the world’s leading provider of debate education, providing resources, training and events to thousands of educators and young people every month.