Your Name __________________________________ Date _____________ Course ____________________________
Evaluating a Source
Name of web page _________________________________________________________________________________
http:// ____________________________________________________________________________________________
CREDIBILITY / AUTHORITY:
The site should provide information about the author’s or editor’s expertise and how to contact him or her.
1. Is an author’s name provided?
If yes, what is the author’s name? ______________________________
Y
N
2. Are the author’s credentials provided?
If yes, circle all information that applies;
occupation
experience
position
Y
N
Y
N
education
3. Is the site affiliated with an organization or institution?
If yes, circle the type of organization;
government
university
advocacy group
accomplishments
other ________________________
4. If the page is lacking an author and organization, is there another way to determine its origin?
Please describe _____________________________________________________________
ACCURACY of content:
The information presented in the site should be accurate and verifiable.
1.
Does the information present facts/data that is verifiable?
Y
N
2.
Is there an editor or someone who verifies the information?
Y
N
3.
Does the site agree with other information that you have found in books, periodicals, online sources? Y
N
4.
Is a bibliography provided?
N
Y
CURRENCY: Good websites should include a date that indicates the site has current, recently updated information. (A good
source will have been published within the last five years if not in this current year.)
1.
Is the page dated?
If yes, what is the date? __________
Y
N
2.
Has the page been updated?
If yes, when was the last update? ___________
Y
N
3.
Are there links to other sites?
If yes, are they helpful?
Y
Y
N
N
4.
Are the links “active” (try at least 2 or 3 links – have the linked sites been moved or no longer exist)? Y
N
Carro, Wheeling High School, 2011
Adapted from Baker/Moyer, Delsea Regional HS and Gibble, HCRHS
REASONABLENESS
OBJECTIVITY: A credible site will present objective information.
1.
Does the site present a biased perspective on the topic?
Y
(Does the writer rely on emotion, language or unsubstantiated statements to get the message across?
Does the site offer more than one viewpoint?)
N
2. List any reasons that the information might be biased.
Please describe ______________________________________________________________
3. Does this site try to sell anything? Is there advertising on this page?
4.
Y
N
What indications do you find that the information is objective?
Please describe ______________________________________________________________
SUPPORT
COVERAGE
1.
Is the information well-written and easy to understand?
Y
N
2.
Is the material sufficiently in-depth for your needs?
Y
N
3.
Is it easy to search/browse the site?
Y
N
4.
What information does this page offer that is not found elsewhere?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
5.
List two other sources that support the source’s claims:
_________________________________________________________________________________________
6. This site provides access to: (check all that apply)
research information ___
links to related information ___
7.
questions and answers ___
multimedia elements ___
interactivities ___
communication with experts ____
graphics ___
other ___________________________
What types of information/resources are located on the site?
Photos _____
Text/Documents _____
Movies _____
8.
student projects ___
Sound recordings _____
material for teachers ___
advertisements ___
Maps ____
Other (describe) ______________
Does the source provide viable contact information?
Y
N
EVALUATION
After thinking about the above questions, decide how useful this website is for your project. Record your evaluation here,
giving reason(s) for your rating (consider credibility/authority, accuracy of content, reasonableness, and support/coverage
in addition to design and interactive communications.)
This website was/was not useful because __________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
OVERALL RATING:
5
High
4
3
2
1
Low
Carro, Wheeling High School, 2011
Adapted from Baker/Moyer, Delsea Regional HS and Gibble, HCRHS