How to Evalute a Website

Why is it important to evaluate web pages?

1. Anyone can make and publish anything on the internet.
2. Not all information is reliable and true.
3. There are no standards and things can change.
4. Hyperlinks can take you away from reliable pages.
5. Search engines can drop you into the middle of a site.

When evaluating a page or site you need to ask these 4 questions

1. Who wrote or published the site?

• Is there information about the author? If no, then why do you think it is missing?
• What qualifications do the author have?
• Is the site educational (.edu), government (.gov) or a company (.com)

2. Why was this site or page created?

• Is the site unbiased?
• Are they trying to sell you something?
• Is it trying to sway the reader?

3. What information is on the site?

• Is it age appropriate?
• Is the information useful
• Is the information valid, accurate and creditable
• Are there references?

4. How recent has it been updated?

• When was it created?
• Are there any dead links?