Five Criteria for Evaluating Web Pages

An Arvada High School Guide

Quick Write

1.  When you need to research a topic for school, where do you look for your information?

2.  When on the internet looking for information, how do you evaluate websites?

ACCURACY

Are sources of information/factual data listed and available for cross-checking?

Do they accurately cite all information and provide links?

AUTHORITY

Who wrote the page?  Is this person qualified?Is the publisher qualified to publish this document?Who is responsible for the page?Where is the document published?  Check the URL.  

.gov

.net

.com

.edu

.mil

.org

    

OBJECTIVITY

What goals/objectives does this page meet?What opinions are being expressed?  Is it a mask for advertising?Determine the purpose and audience.

CURRENCY

When was it produced?When was it last updated?Are the links current and active?Is all the information current?

COVERAGE

Are there relevant, active, helpful links?Is the navigation within the website clear?Is the topic covered completely?Can you access all information with your given software?

"The True but Little Known Facts about Women and AIDS" and more..."The True but Little Known Facts about Women and AIDS "http://147.129.226.1/library/research/AIDSFACTS.htm

"The Spaghetti Tree" http://www.suite101.com/pages/article_old.cfm/bulbs_and_plants/90437

"Jacopo di Poggibonsi" http://www.umich.edu/~engtt516/index2.html

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.Compare these two .org cites.

http://www.thekingcenter.org/

http://martinlutherking.org/

OK, so what about Wikipedia?

Steven Colbert: Wikiality http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/72347/july-31-2006/the-word---wikiality

Then where do I look?

Databases!  An introduction to Jeffco Public Library's databases 

is coming soon.

Works Cited

Alenander, Jan, and Marsha Tate. "Evaluating Website

Content." Study Guides and Stratagies. 1996. Web. 22

Feb 2010. <http://www.studygs.net/evaluate.htm>.

"Evaluating Websites." Lesley University Library. 03/12/2007.

Lesley University, Web. 22 Feb 2010.

<http://www.lesley.edu/library/guides/research/evaluating_web.html>.

Kapoun, Jim. "Five Criteria for Evaluative Web Pages." 

Cornell University Library. 1998. Orlin & Uris Libraries, Web. 22 Feb 2010.

<http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/research/webcrit.html>.