Evaluating Websites

Tori Jensen

LEAP High School

Consumer resourcesGovernment dataEntertainmentCurrent researchOnline communities

News and current events

The Web offers a wealth of information

But how do we know what sites have good information?

?

Critically Analyze Sources

Use the Expert’s Tools. Look for:

• Currency• Relevance• Authority• Accuracy• Purpose

Currency

Is the information time-sensitive? When was the site created? When was it last updated?

(whois.net can help with this)

How current are the links to the page?

Which to Choose?

Updated

Unknown Updates?

This site created 5/23/97.

This site created 12/19/98. Last updated 6/2/12.

Relevance

Does the information relate to your topic? Is the information at an appropriate level? How in depth is the material? Who is the intended audience?

Authority

Who is the author? Does the author have credentials? Does the author have a certain

bias? Is there contact information for the

author? Who is the publisher? (use whois.net)

Which to Choose?

Scientists and Researchers at NASA

Unknown Author

Clues to AuthorityThe URL -

.com = commercial site

.edu = educational site

.gov = government site

.net = network (private or commercial)

.org = organizationd

Look author up in Google.

Look for an “about us” link.

Be carful of a site that has a tilde (~) in the URL.

Do other sources refer to this author/publisher?

Accuracy

From what you already know, does the information seem accurate?

Did the author follow basic rules of grammar, spelling, and composition?

Are proper references given to original sources?

Can you find the same information in other sources?

Did the source lead you to other sources of information that were useful?

Purpose

What is the purpose of the information?To teach? To sell? To entertain? Or persuade?

Is the purpose clear? Does the author have a particular

bias? Are biases clearly stated? Is the source designed to sway

opinion?

Which to Choose?

Italy: History and Society

Book a Tripto Italy!

Can You Evaluate These Correctly?http://www.beverageinstitute.org/

http://www.thedogisland.com/

http://www.webmd.com/

http://www.dhmo.org/

http://www.mayoclinic.com/

http://www.umich.edu/~engtt516/index2.html

Thank You!