Web Evaluation Checklist

Name: _____________________________	Web Page Title: ____________________________________________________________
Date: _____________________________	URL: ____________________________________________________________

1. Accuracy -

1A. Does the information seem to be error free? Is there anything stated you would question and wonder if it is true?

1B. Who is the sponsoring institution (government, University, commercial company, non-profit organization)? HINT: Look at the URL

1C. Have you ever heard of the sponsoring institution before? If you do, what do you know about it? If you have never heard of it before, what would make you want to trust or not trust what the site claims?

1D. Does the information mainly state an opinion or are there facts to support their claims? Does the author(s) or institution state where they have gotten any facts?

2. Authority -

2A. Is the author or source of the information identified?

2B. What are the author(s) qualifications? Why are the author(s) an expert on the subject provided? What do they know about the topic?

2C. List the author's qualifications here:

2D. Does the site exhibit proper grammar, spelling, and literary composition? Is the web page hard to read? Can it be hard to read for other reasons (colors conflict with one another, flashing text, images that have nothing to do with the topic and give no additional information)?

3. Objectivity

3A. What is the site’s purpose: to inform, explain, persuade or sell?

3B. Does the web site have any sponsors (ex. banner or pop-up advertisers)? If so, list the sponsors and state what you think about the fact that the site has sponsors.

3C. Is the information presented with a minimum of personal bias (In other words does the person simply inform you on a topic or has strong feelings that may persuade you on a particular side)?

3D. If the site seems to have a bias, does it acknowledge other side(s) of the argument and does it treat those who disagree with them with respect?

4. Currency

4A. Is the content of the work up-to-date? (NOTE: Just because a page was not updated for a few months, does not mean it is not, unless the subject demands it to be).

4B. Do the links from the site work or do a great number of links end up with error messages?

4C. Is the date of creation or most recent revision date clearly shown? (If not, you can determine date last updated by going to the View pull down menu and selecting Page Info)

4D. If the page was last updated today, is it possible that the site is using a special tool that will ALWAYS give you today's date?

5. Coverage -

5A. How much is the web site really giving you about the subject at hand. A lot? A little? Not much?

5B. Is the web site divided into a number of subtopics? List the subtopics here.

5C. What does this web site not cover of which you would expect it to cover?

5D. Is the information relevant to your needs? Does it give you anything you may want to use for a research project or for your own personal use? (NOTE: Remember the AUTHORITY AND ACCURACY questions)

5E. I would ____Recommend this site to anyone interested in this subject
____Recommend this site to anyone interested in this subject, except for my instructors
____Recommend this site only to those who agree with the subject
____Recommend this site only to those who disagree with the subject
____Not recommend this site