ENGL 101: Calkins, J. (Fall 2024): Finding Web sites

Why Use Websites?

Websites are the most accessible sources for research, having a format with the ability to reach across the globe to people with internet access. Convenience is a major reason for using websites in research, and many journals, publishers, organizations, and authors have taken this opportunity to reach out to the public by utilizing websites and other digital means. Websites are also a major gateway to publications from non-profit organizations and government agencies. 

The flip side of using websites:

But with convenience comes risk for users -- you have to make sure you evaluate sources thoroughly, particularly sources online! Why? Because both individuals and groups can create websites and write about anything they choose--whether or not they have the education, training, or experience to make them experts.

Image source: Computer icons created by Freepik - Flaticon

Find Reliable Websites: Limit the Domains!

URL domains can be clues to a site's reliability and ownership. 

Common URL Domains:

• .com = commercial (ads & pop-ups)
• .gov = U.S. government (official agencies)
• .mil = U.S. military
• .edu = educational (colleges & universities)
• .org = organization (could be non-profit or for-profit, can be informative but often biased)
• .net = network (could be almost anything, including personal websites)
• .info = information (generic domain, no criteria needed for companies or individuals to use)
• .biz = business (an alternative to .com)

Considering who is publishing information on the websites you visit can help you assess the credibility of sources.  You can also limit your searches, like through a Google search, by using the "site:" search shortcut. 

"Site searching" examples:

• "politics in art" site:.edu (would find educational resources on this topic)
• "politics in art" site:.gov (would find U.S. government resources on this topic)
• Note that there are NO spaces before or after the colon after the word "site"

Try a search below: