Hosted by George Mason University, this site focuses on academic news related to college History Departments, but it also includes insightful articles from leading academic historians on a wide variety of topics.
C.A.R.S Evaluation
The CARS checklist for evaluating internet sources: c redibility, a ccuracy, r easonableness, and s upport.
Evaluator's role:
Librarian
Credibility
Evaluation Goal: an authoritative source, a source that supplies some good evidence that allows you to trust it.
Evidence of credibility:
Authorship from a known and respected organization (corporate, governmental, or non-profit)
Evidence of credibility:
Site provides contact information
Evidence of credibility:
Site provides a biography of the author's education and/or experience related to the topic
Evidence of credibility:
Site has few, if any, grammatical and spelling errors
Accuracy
Evaluation Goal: a source that is correct today (not yesterday), a source that gives the whole truth.
Evidence of accuracy:
The site has been updated recently
Evidence of accuracy:
The site clearly states its purpose and/or intended audience
Evidence of accuracy:
The site focuses on providing facts rather than just opinions
Evidence of accuracy:
The site uses footnotes and/or clearly identifies its sources
Reasonability
Evaluation Goal: a source that engages the subject thoughtfully and reasonably, concerned with the truth.
Evidence of reasonableness:
The site doesn't use inflammatory or abusive language
Evidence of reasonableness:
The site's sponsor and/or author doesn't have any obvious conflicts of interests
Evidence of reasonableness:
The site appears to at least address all sides of the issues
Evidence of reasonableness:
The site has no obvious factual errors
Support
Evaluation Goal: a source that provides convincing evidence for the claims made, a source you can triangulate (find at least two other sources that support it).
Evidence of support:
The site provides links to further information from a variety of sources.
Evidence of support:
The site provides a way to contact the author and/or sponsor.
Evidence of support:
The site includes references and/or footnotes to information sources.
