REMEMBER that the Internet DOES NOT REPLACE resources found at your school library or your public library. The Internet DOES NOT REPLACE good reference books.
Before you use information from a web site, take a critical look at it. Unlike many book sources, there is no filtering mechanism on the web. Some web sites are produced by experts; others are created by individuals as a hobby or classroom assignment. The idea is to be a careful consumer when using the Internet for research. Consider the following when evaluating web sites:
What is the purpose of the site? Is it to inform, to persuade, to present opinions, to report research, or to promote and sell a product? What is the intended audience of this site?
Who is the author? Is the author/producer identifiable? Does the author have expertise in the subject as indicated on a credentials page? Is the sponsor/location of the site appropriate to the material? Check the domain name at the end of the URL. Often the domain name system can give clues to the individual or organization behind the address.
What is the scope and accuracy of the material? Does the material seem factually accurate or is it full of errors? Does the material seem useful or irrelevant? Is the material original or borrowed from elsewhere? Is the information factual or opinion? Is any sort of bias evident? How frequently is the resource updated? Can you find what you need from the homepage?
When was the site last revised? Is the information current? How up-to-date are the links? Does the text follow basic rules of grammar, spelling and literary composition? Do you know where the web site got their information?