Whether you use Google or library resources, it is important that you evaluate them first. You must use reliable sources for your speeches.

Video created by The Open University Library Services

Questions to consider when evaluating websites:

• Purpose – Look for an “About this site” link/section.  Is the purpose of the website to solicit something?  Do you see adds that could suggest bias?  Could they have sponsored the research?

• Accuracy – Do you see citations or works cited listed?  Is there evidence to back up claims or is the information opinion based?  Are there spelling/grammatical errors?

• Authority: Author – Is there an individual credited for the website?  Who are they?  What are their credentials?

• Authority: Publisher – Who runs this website?  How does the site pay for its existence?

• Relevance – Does this information make sense for your research?  Does the intended audience match your purposes?

• Currency – Look for a latest revision or last updated date/year listed.

**TIP:  Conduct perimeter scans (look along the edges – top, bottom, sides – of the website) to quickly find the answers to these questions and evaluate the information!

Expert Tip:

Use Google's site command to search specific websites and domains. 

• Search only government websites use site:.gov
  • organic farming site:.gov
• Search only educational institutions' websites use site:.edu
  • texting while driving site:.edu
• Search a specific website use the site's URL
  • driverless cars site:nytimes.com