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English 271: Drama Literature: The "6 W's"

This assignment guide includes information resources for Susan St. John's ENG 271: Drama Literature Researched Slide Presentation Assignment

The "6 W's"

These six, one-word questions are an excellent way to help you evaluate an information source:

Who?

Who wrote/created this information, and who are they in terms of this information and in this context? Who is this information for? Who benefits?

What?

What is the source? What format? What are the facts? What is covered, and what isn't? What is the main point? What conclusions does it provide? What evidence does it provide?

When?

When was this information gathered, posted, or published? Which "when" is the information about? Is that time period useful to you? Is it old enough or recent enough?

Where?

Where (a physical place or otherwise) was the information gathered, posted, or published? Which "where" is the information about?

Why?

Why does this information source exist? Why is it provided in this way?

How?

How was the information gathered or created? How was it analyzed? How is it presented?

Credible Websites?

Hartness Library. "Credible Websites?" Vermont Technical College, 22 June 2012. YouTube. CC licensed.

Source Evaluation – "6 W's" Exercise A

Use the "6 W's" questions to evaluate the following websites.

Which of these sites would be best to use for a college-level paper or presentation on the following research question: how can new technologies improve the quality of life?

Source 1
Source 2
Source 3
Source 4
Source 5

Windward Community College Library • 45-720 Keaʻahala Rd. • Kāneʻohe, HI 96744
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