Evaluate Web Resources: A Checklist

Authority

• Is there an author?  Is the page signed?
• Is the author qualified?  What are the author's credentials?
• Who is the sponsor?  Is the sponsor reputable?
• Can the author or sponsor be contacted (links) for verification?
• Is it possible to determine the producers of the page?  Is the source or domain name easily identifiable?

Accuracy

• Is the content accurate?  Are sources of factual information listed?
• Is the content reliable and error-free?
• Is there an editor who verifies/checks the information?

Currency

• Is the page dated? What is the publication or copyright date?
• When was the page last revised or updated?
• Are the links current?

Content/Coverage

• Is the content complete and accurate?  Are its contents unique?
• How comprehensive, in-depth, and original is the material?
• Is it scholarly, popular, or sensational information?
• What's its relative value compared to other information sources?
• How reliable are the links?  Are the links relevant for the site?
• If there is a print equivalent, is there accidental or deliberate alteration?
• Does the text follow basic rules of grammar, spelling, and literary composition?

Objectivity/Point of View

• Does the page represent one point of view or several?  Any bias?
• Is the page designed to sway opinion?

Purpose and audience

• Who is the page geared to?
• Is the purpose clearly stated?  Is it to inform, explain, persuade, etc.?

Style/Design

• Is the information easy to access, read, and navigate?
• Is it a clear, organized visual presentation of information?
• Can you navigate within and among documents?
• Do the graphics or icons serve a function?