Cheri Lemieux

Dan Mosser

English 3014

September 5, 2002

Web Evaluation Project

One Medieval website that I found would be particularly helpful in the study of Geoffrey Chaucer is, quite simply, The Geoffrey Chaucer Website, located at http://icg.fas.harvard.edu/~chaucer/. I picked this website because it matched the criteria that I deem important when evaluating the worth of a website; it has a creditable source, an academically valid purpose, a recent update, and a variety of material that is thorough and easily comprehended.

To begin my evaluation of the site, I checked over the credentials of the producer of the site. I found that it was created by Harvard University, specifically two professors of English, Dr. Jane Tolmie and Larry Benson. Finding that the page was constructed not only through a university, but by faculty of the University’s English department, proves to me that the makers have some must authority on the subject.

The next thing I looked for was the purpose in the page’s creation. From the description on the page, I found that it was designed to be used for Harvard University's Chaucer classes in the Core Program, the English Department, and the Division of Continuing Education. From this, one assumes that the material on the page must be accurate; it is hard to believe that the professors of a university, especially an Ivy League school such as Harvard, would be supplying their students with information that could not be trusted. As a result, I believe the web site’s purpose fully meets my expectations for a creditable site.

Next, I looked at when the web page was last updated. Although I knew the makers had good intent, I still found it important to make sure the most up-to-date material is provided. The site indicates the last update occurred on May 19, 2002. The site also expresses a long-term goal widen the range of Chaucer's writings that are discussed. This goal tells me that the work is not complete and the makers intend to continue to update the page. Consequently, the page meets the requirement of being kept up-to-date.

The final criterion, having material that thoroughly explains the desired information in an easy to comprehend way, is what I believe this page excels at the most. The website is designed in a way that provides information for all types of people who are researching Chaucer. It contains a wide range of information, such as Chaucer’s background, his works, his time period, and even directions for learning how to read “Chaucer’s Middle English.” Not only is the information thorough, but it also is created in a way that explains ideas simply so that any researcher could access the information it has to offer. Thus, the website completes my listing of criteria and ultimately proves itself worthy of use in a Chaucer-related project.