Since almost anything can be put online, it is necessary to critically evaluate the information you find on the web. Web sites are often a blend of information, entertainment and advertising.
The internet is a great place to find both scholarly and popular sources, but it's especially important to ask questions about authorship and publication when you're evaluating online resources. If it's unclear who exactly created or published certain works online, look for Aboutpages on the site for more information, or search for exact quotations from the text in Google (using quotation marks) to see if you can find other places where the work has been published.
Is the site up-to-date?
When was the information created or last updated?
Are the links expired or current?
Does the site have an author?
What are the author’s qualifications or expertise in the area?
Is the contact information for the author or the sponsor/publisher given?
What is the relationship between the author and the sponsoring institution?
Is the information accurate?
Has the information been edited/fact-checked?
Is the information verifiable?
Does the site document the sources used?
If the information is historical or biographical, are the dates of events accurate?
How does the information compare with what you already know?
Whose point of view/perspective is given?
Is the author simply promoting an agenda?
To what extent is the information trying to sway the opinion of the audience?
Is there advertising on the page?
Do a quick scan of the site. Can you determine its general purpose? Is it meant to:
INFORM
e.g., about current events, new information, etc.
EXPLAIN
e.g., teach, instruct, etc.
PERSUADE
e.g., change your mind, sell you something, etc.
The domain name and the source of the URL web address of the page will indicate the site’s intended audience. Knowing this provides clues as to the site’s value and reliability.
Doman | Meaning | Example |
.edu | created at a college or university; remember this includes things like blogs written by students or faculty. | www.nd.edu |
.gov | created by an official U.S. Federal agency or office. | www.federalreserves.gov |
.org | varies - in most cases the site was created by a nonprofit organization or an individual. | www.npr.org |
.com | varies - in most cases the site was created by a for-profit organization | www.amazon.com |
.net | varies greatly - often indicates that the site was created by a person, group, etc. that uses an Internet service provider | www.earthlink.net |
.mil | created by the U.S. military | www.usmc.mil |
Most websites will fall into the following broad categories: