When evaluating web sites, answer questions about the 4 As;
1. Author
- Who is the author of this site?
- What are his/her credentials (occupation, position, education, years of experience)?
- Is the author an expert on this topic?
Tip: If you can’t find answers to these questions, you probably shouldn’t use this source in an academic paper.
2. Affiliation
- What institution, organization, or Internet provider supports this information?
- What is the viewpoint or bias of this group?
Tip: Look for an “About Us” link or similar information on the web site.
3. Agenda
- What is the purpose of this site? Why was it put on the web?
- What opinions are expressed by the author?
4. Accuracy
- When was this site last updated? (The information might be out-of-date.)
- Are statistics and other facts correctly cited?
- How does this information compare with that in other sources, such as print sources?