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ENGL 100/105 Valenzuela

Course guide for Prof. Yolanda Valenzuel'as ENGL 100 and 105 classes

The P.R.O.V.E.N. technique

How do you judge whether a website is credible? Some of hallmarks of a credible website are:

  • Purpose: How and why was the source created?
    • Why does this information exist? To educate, inform, persuade, sell or entertain? Do the authors, publishers, or sponsors state this purpose, or try to disguise it?
    • Who is the intended audience? The general public, students, experts?
  • Relevance: The value of the source to your needs.
    • Is the type of source appropriate for how you plan to use it and for your assignment's requirements?
    • How useful it the information in this source, compared to other sources?
    • How detailed is the information? Is it too general or too specific? Is it too basic or too advanced?
  • Objectivity: The reasonableness and completeness of the information
    • Do the authors present the information thoroughly and professionally?
    • Do they use strong, emotional, manipulative or offensive language?
  • Verifiability: The accuracy and truthfulness of the information
    • Do the authors support their information with factual evidence?
  • Expertise: The authority of the authors and the source
    • ​What makes the authors, publishers or sponsors of the source authorities on the topic?
  • Newness: The age of the information
    • Is your topic in an area that requires current information, such as science, technology or current events? Or could information found in older sources still be useful and valid?