Web Evaluation

1) Evaluate the Site:

ASK:

• Is it the best source that I can find?

• What do I need to know? Does this source give relevant info?

• Who created & wrote it?

  • Are they an expert or authority on the subject (person or organization/institution)?

  • Are they biased?

• Is the information too old to be useful?

• Is it written at a level that I can understand?

Can it pass the **CRAAP** test?

2) Go BEYOND the website:

Approach the evaluation like a Fact Checker:

• Lateral reading: reading across many sources

  • • See what others say about the claim

• Google important terms, organizations and names mentioned in your article/source to learn more and verify information

  • • Verify the "About' page info!

    • Use a Google image search to check context (for example, did they use an old photo and misrepresent the context?)

• Use fact-checking sites

• Follow the links in the original article. Do they make sense?

Use the **SIFT** evaluation strategy!

Clues that your Source May be Reliable:

• Author (person or organization) is an expert in topic (degrees, work experience, accomplishments match subject of Web page)

• Well written; correct grammar & spelling

• "Live" or working links

• Contact info/address available

• URL clues (org, edu, com, gov, etc)

• Credits sources and/or recommends sources for "More Information"

• A Google search on the author and/or organization turns up positive & reassuring results (no controversies, etc.)

Fact Checking Tools

• FactCheck.org

• PolitiFact

• Snopes