Answered By: James Whitmer
Last Updated: Jun 22, 2020     Views: 18

Since the internet comprises numerous sites, there are a lot of possible sources to use. However, you should not cite just anything you find in a scholarly paper because most online content is not thoroughly researched and/or is written from a biased perspective. For instance, according to the linked handout, every Web source should be evaluated based on

  • Currency ("The timeliness of the information"),
  • Relevance ("The importance of the information for your needs"),
  • Authority ("The source of the information"),
  • Accuracy ("The reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the information"), and
  • Purpose ("The reason the information exists").

For more information on those rigorous standards to help you evaluate an internet source for a scholarly essay, please see the following linked handout: