The C.A.R.S. Checklist for Evaluating Internet Sources
You should evaluate every web site you use for research or for personal information. The CARS checklist for evaluating internet sources is listed below. Ask yourself the following questions about each site and try to use only those that have the best evidence of credibility, accuracy, reasonableness, and support.
For more detailed information on using the CARS checklist, see:
http://www.virtualsalt.com/evalu8it.htm
|
Credibility |
|
Goal: A source that is created by a person or organization who knows the subject and who cares about its quality |
|
Accuracy |
Goal: A source with information that is current, complete, and correct |
|
Reasonableness |
Goal: A source that is truthful and unbiased |
(To sell a product? To advance a viewpoint or belief? To educate?) |
Support |
Goal: A source with verifiable sources of information |
|
Where should you look to find this information?
Ideally, information such as the author, host organization, and publication date will be easily located at either the top or bottom of the page. However, you may need to dig deeper:
Tip: Save some work by creating your bibliographic citation while you evaluate. Many of the elements you need to cite a web page in MLA Style (author, publisher, date, etc.) are the same ones you need to evaluate its quality. If more than a few of these are missing, the site is probably not a good one!
Adapted with permission from: Harris, Robert. "Evaluating Internet Research Sources." http://www.virtualsalt.com/evalu8it.htm
© 2007, Robert Harris & Andrew Spinks Duplicate freely for nonprofit educational use.
For more research help, see www.virtual salt.com and www.andyspinks.com
This is a printable website evaluation checklist with more than just yes or no answers that your teacher might use as practice.
The questions in the next box are to be used informally to check a website you may use as a source for your research.
Westport TAPP
8800 Westport Rd., Louisville, KY 40242