Source Evaluation Checklist
SOURCE EVALUATION CHECKLIST:
Author
Who is the author?
How is the author qualified?
Is the author an expert?
Does the author have bias? (Remember that a bias may not be directly stated.)
Be wary if you cannot determine an author or group responsible for the content you are reading!
Host or Publisher
Who hosts the site? OR Who publishes this resource?
What is their purpose and audience?
Does the host/publisher have bias? (Remember that a bias may not be directly stated.)
What is the domain extension?
The publisher and/or doman can help you determine how reputable a website is. For example, .gov is the domain for United States government sites and .edu is for US Educational institutuions. Note that not all .com sites are unreliable and not all .org sites are reputable -- .org simply means that the website is for a non-profit group.
Sources
Does the resource provide its sources?
Does it refer/link you to other credible sources?
Is the information able to be cross-referenced?
Currency
Is the site regularly updated? When was it published?
Is there any information which seems out-of-date?
Web Resources
Reputable web sites can be a good place to find background information on your topic. But not all websites are reliable! Remember that both the best and worst part of the web is that anyone can contribute anything they like. So, it's very important to be aware of your source.
Think carefully about the information that you find -- Who created it, and why? What is its purpose? What gives this person the authority to write or share this information? How old is the information? Is it biased in any way? Who is meant to read it?
You will find a great deal of information on the web that is unhelpful, inaccurate, misleading, etc. Consult with the professor before using any websites other than those listed on your course syllabus.
Ancient Texts Online
- Early Christian WritingsHas lots of online texts (including the Apocryphal Acts of the Apostles) and articles about them.
- Perseus Digital LibraryA great resource of texts, images and scholarship relating to the ancient world.
- The Gnostic Society LibraryFind all sorts of information about texts related to gnosticism.
- Gospel ParallelsSee line-up of different versions of the same gospel passages.
- The Fathers of the ChurchAccess the writings of the patristic authors.
Other Recommended Links
The Ancient World
- Life in Roman Times (PBS)(plus links)
Christian History
- The Basics of Christian HistoryA BBC program website offering an easy introduction to Christianity in the Roman period.
- From Jesus to ChristA collection of articles and audio clips from the PBS Frontline documentary of the same title, addressing the development of Christianity in the first four centuries.
- Christian Catacombs in Rome (Callixtus)A guide to the Callixtus catacombs.
The Bible
- Religion OnlineA collection of many online books and articles. Most useful for your class is the list under Bible, then New Testament.
- Bible OdysseyA collection of articles, videos, and images on the Bible.