LibGuides: ENGL 250 (N. Nelson): Web Reliability

What's a domain?

Be a savvy Google searcher. Use domains to tell you something about your website.
What are common "top-level domains"?
- .com (think google.com)
- .edu (think ferris.edu)
- .gov (think usa.gov)
- .org (think redcross.org)
- .net. (any ideas?)
Only government sites (.gov) and educational institutions (.edu) can be given those domains.
- Website addresses ending in .org, .com, .co, and .net can purchased by anyone.
Think about each online source before you decide to use it for your research!

Google Advanced Search
Limit your search to .gov and .edu searches to find the most reliable material on the Free Web. Then use Google Tools to find the most current websites. Ask for help if you need it.
https://usa.gov
Government documents can be useful for background information, history of agencies, laws, and so on.

CRAAP Test [PDF]
Evaluate authority of research material, especially things found on the Internet.
Accessible CRAAP Test for Source Evaluation
Use the CRAAP Test to help you evaluate sources. Answer the questions and then score the five parts 1 – 10, (1 = unreliable, 10 = excellent). Add up the scores to help you decide whether you should use the resource or whether your professor would want you to use it.