Examples of Credible and Unreliable Websites for ELA Students

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🔍 Credible Websites: These sources are reliable and trustworthy. They often have authors with expertise, cite their sources, and are known for accuracy. Think academic journals, reputable news organizations (like the New York Times or BBC), and government websites.
• 📝 Key Indicators of Credibility: Author's credentials, evidence-based information, objective language, and a clear purpose (to inform or educate). Also, look for peer review (especially in academic sources) and a professional design.
• 🚩 Unreliable Websites: These sources may contain biased, inaccurate, or misleading information. They often lack author information, cite unreliable sources, or have a clear agenda to persuade rather than inform. Think blogs with no expertise, websites promoting conspiracy theories, and sources that spread misinformation.
• ⚠️ Red Flags for Unreliability: Lack of sources, excessive use of emotional language, numerous grammatical errors, a hidden agenda, and a domain name that seems suspicious. Also be aware of satire sites - while they can be funny, they're not reliable sources of information.
• 💡 Tips for Evaluation: Check the 'About Us' page to learn about the website's purpose and authors. Cross-reference information with other credible sources. Be aware of your own biases and how they might influence your evaluation. Consider the domain name (e.g., .edu and .gov are generally more reliable than .com).

🧪 Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following is MOST likely to be a credible source for a research paper on the American Revolution?
   1. A. A personal blog about historical fiction.
   2. B. A Wikipedia article on the American Revolution.
   3. C. An academic journal article on the American Revolution from a university press.
   4. D. A website selling Revolutionary War memorabilia.
2. What is a key indicator of a credible website?
   1. A. Anonymous authorship.
   2. B. Frequent grammatical errors.
   3. C. Clear citations of sources.
   4. D. Highly emotional language.
3. Which domain extension is generally considered MORE reliable for research purposes?
   1. A. .com
   2. B. .org
   3. C. .net
   4. D. .edu
4. A website claims that vaccines cause autism, citing no scientific evidence. What red flag does this raise?
   1. A. Use of a common argument.
   2. B. Lack of credible sources.
   3. C. Professional website design.
   4. D. Clear contact information.
5. Which of the following is MOST important to check when evaluating a website's credibility?
   1. A. The website's font choice.
   2. B. The author's qualifications and expertise.
   3. C. The number of ads on the website.
   4. D. The website's loading speed.
6. You find an article on a website with a strong political bias. How should you approach this source?
   1. A. Accept it as fact if it aligns with your views.
   2. B. Ignore it completely.
   3. C. Consider the bias and cross-reference the information with other sources.
   4. D. Share it widely on social media.
7. What is the purpose of cross-referencing information from multiple sources?
   1. A. To increase the length of your research paper.
   2. B. To confirm the accuracy and objectivity of the information.
   3. C. To avoid plagiarism.
   4. D. To find sources that agree with your opinion.