HIS 121: World History (Saylor): Website Evaluation

When looking at information online, use these questions to help you determine whether the source is credible:

Who created the web page?

• Can you tell who wrote or created the content?
• Is there an "about us" page?
• Are they an expert on the topic? How can you tell if they're an expert? [Hint: Google their name to see if you can find out anything else.]

When was the web page created?

• When was the web page created? Or do you know when it was last updated?
• Was it published recently? Can you tell how old the information is? [Hint: In some fields and for some topics, this is very important.]

Who sponsors the information?

• Can you tell who funds the web page?
• What can you tell about the organization sponsoring the information?
• Do they have any conflicts of interest? [Hint: Google the organization to see if you can find any other information about them.]

Is it relevant?

• Is the information relevant to your topic or assignment? 
• What is the purpose of the website or information? Entertainment? Education? Something else?

Visit these two websites. Which would be better to use for an academic project in History? Why? 

Bubonic Plague

What Was the Black Death?

The Black Death and Its Aftermath

Below is a collection of websites that should help you get started with your research.  

Evaluating Websites can be tricky. Check out this video to see how to go about it in real time: