 Subject: What is the text about? (topic)  Out of what exigency (opportunity) did the text grow? What is the context (time, place, social attitudes, historical events) that create the opportunity for the text?

 For whom is the text intended? (gender, age, race, political leanings, spending habits, hobbies, etc. ) Click the picture below of Martin Luther King Jr. and determine for whom this website is intended.

 What does the writer hope to accomplish? (express & reflect, inform & explain, evaluate & judge, inquire & explore, analyze & interpret, take a stand/propose a solution/argument)

 Who is the author?  What are the writers credentials?  What is the writers expertise (ethos)?  Is there any way to reach the author?  Is there an organizational or corporate sponsor?  Does the author’s identity suggest bias?  Is this page authentic or is it a hoax?  Is there a reference list? Is this website REAL or FAKE?

 Crop Circle Connection Crop Circle Connection  Is the content appropriate for your classroom or your assignment?  Is the content accurate, complete, well-written?  Is the content relevant to your topic or question?

 CNN CNN  Is the information on the page up-to-date?  Can you tell when the page was last updated?  Are there dead links?  Is there a difference between the date the information was created and the date the page was last updated?

 New Beginning for Life New Beginning for Life  Is the information clearly presented?  Is the text neat, legible and formatted for easy reading?  If there are graphics, do they add to the content or distract?  If there are advertisements, do they interfere with your ability to use the page?  Are the pages well organized?  Are there mistakes in spelling or word usage?

 Yahoo! Yahoo!  Can you get in?  Does the site load quickly?  Can you move around the site easily?  Is the site or page still there next time?

 Websites vs. Databases  What’s the difference?  Databases are usually collections of articles from a variety of sources that have been written and peer reviewed by scholars. Databases are not accessible to the general public without a paid subscription usually through a library or school.  Websites are free and open to the public. Anyone can create a webpage about any subject, whether or not they are an expert.  Wikipedia ◦ Wikipedia is an open access encyclopedia that anyone can contribute to and edit. It’s best to use Wikipedia to gather key words and people at the beginning of your research.