How to evaluate the level of web sources

1. • To gain quick, shallow knowledge across the breadth
of your topic
• To answer the most commonly asked (or anticipated)
questions about your topic
• To figure out keywords for more advanced searching
• To find initial leads to more advanced sources
Purposes
• Wikipedia
• Other encyclopedias, factbooks, directories, and
indexes, including online ones (e.g. CIA World
Factbook; Encyclopedia of DNA)
• Anything else in the reference section of a library
(online or physical)
• Textbooks and other educational materials
Sources
Working Knowledge Sources

2. • Same as WK sources, but a little more in-
depthPurposes
• Most daily newspapers
• TV news—NBC, FOX, CNN, BBC
• Weekly news magazines: Newsweek, Time, The
Week, U.S. News and World Report
• Most other periodicals (quick test: something that
could conceivably be read without prior
knowledge/interest?)
• Homepages of professional and non-profit
organizations (e.g. The Cactus and Succulent Society
of America) as well as most commercial (.com)
websites
• Blogs, online magazines (e.g. Salon), and other web
material, to the degree it seems to replicate one of
the above types
Sources
“Light” General Interest Sources

3. • To gain deeper knowledge of your topic in a fairly
readable way
• To confirm and hopefully extend the information
gathered in earlier stages with more varied evidence
• To learn all about the “ongoing conversation” that
surrounds your topic. You need to know the players,
controversies, history, etc., before you offer a view!
Purposes
• Major newspapers: New York Times, Washington Post,
Wall Street Journal, London Times, London Guardian
• Subject-specialized periodicals (e.g. Foreign Policy; Art
Forum; The Chronicle of Higher Ed)
• A few specific magazines with “weighty” reputations
(e.g. The New Yorker. The Atlantic)
• Sometimes: (lengthy) feature articles or (lengthy)
special reports in lighter-interest sources
• Articles from educational (.edu), governmental (.gov)
and organizational (.org) websites, if sufficiently in
depth (quick test: is it lengthy enough to require
downloading?)
Sources
“Heavy” General Interest Sources

4. Final thoughts to keep in mind. . .
*Working knowledge sources can be quite useful, in their way. I don’t
recommend avoiding them (unless you are already well-informed your
topic). They will provide you with important keywords and the
overview to answer initial questions.
*But ideally, all working knowledge sources should be replaced prior
to final drafting. How do we do that? We use their help to look for
more impressive sources that provide the same information. Both an
encyclopedia entry and a Journal of Climate Change article could offer
the same definition of “global warming.” Find the higher-quality
source!
*When it comes to using other source types, it is all about the
balance. “Light” general interest sources aren’t forbidden, but should
be limited, with an overall higher percentage of “heavy” or scholarly
sources.