Evaluating Websites
Not all websites are created equal...
Anyone can make a webpage. For academic purposes, it is important to always consider the following when using the web as part of your research:
Authority - who made the page? Is he/she an expert in the knowledge that is being presented?
Appropriateness - is the information appropriate for your assignment/research? Consider things like language, age level.
Currency - how old is the page? Is the information itself current? When was the page last updated?
Objectivity - is there a bias to the point of view of the page? Is it hidden or overt?
Purpose - what is the purpose of the site? Does it inform, sell, persuade an opinion?
Dalhousie University has an excellent resource to help you evaluate your web resources.
Websites
- Arts AliveCanada’s National Arts Centre performing arts website available in English and French. Sections for students, teachers and parents. Information, podcasts and newsletters about music, theatre and dance.
- Canadian Theatre EncyclopediaSite hosted by Athabasca University to “collect and disseminate information on plays, playwrights and theatre practitioners.” Search by phrase or term.
- Museum of CostumeMuseum of fashion pre 1800, 1800-1899 and post 1900. Play the Costume Drama or Dress of the Year games.
- National Theatre School of CanadaOfficial webpage of The National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal.
- Speech Accent ArchiveProduced by George Mason University, “the speech accent archive uniformly presents a large set of speech samples from a variety of language backgrounds.”
- Stratford Shakespeare FestivalOfficial site of the Stratford Shakespeare in Ontario. Contains sound and image clips and lists courses to help enhance theatre skills.
- Theatre Research in CanadaTable of contents, abstracts and some full-text from Theatre Research in Canada journal.
