Evaluating Web Sites
1. Go to the website Ask an Expert: How does paint color affect energy use at http://www.crest.org/articles/static/1/997899260_982762890.html
See if you can find information about the author of that page. Do you think this person is qualified to write about how the color of paint affects energy use? ________ Why or why not? _________________________________________________________________
2. Go to the website Turning Points in the Cold War http://www.angelfire.com/stars/lunareclipse/
Find out who the authors of this web page are. Would you use this page in your research? Why or why not?
________________________________________________________________________
3. Go to the website In Defense of Smokers http://www.lcolby.com/
On the main web page, look for a link to information about the author of this page. What is this person’s background? _____________________________________________________
Based on his background experiences and education, do you think he would be a good, knowledgeable source of information about smoking? Why or why not?
________________________________________________________________________
4. Go to the website The King Center www.thekingcenter.org
What organization created the www.thekingcenter.org site? __________________________
What does the web site tell you about the organization that created this site? ____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
5. Go to the web page Secondhand Smoke Fact Sheet http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/Factsheets/SecondhandSmoke.htm
Who do you think this article is written for?
_____ Researchers ______ General public ______ Cigarette companies
What organization published this article? ______________________________________
Do you think you can believe what they have to say about smoking? ______________
Why or why not? ________________________________________________________
6. Go to the web page Fact Sheet: Mandatory Storage/Trigger Lock Legislation http://www.nraila.org/Issues/FactSheets/Read.aspx?ID=47
What organization published this article? ___________ What is that organization’s position on gun control issues? ___________________________________________________________________
Would you use this article for academic research?
______ Yes _______ No _______ Maybe
Why did you choose that answer? ________________________________________
7. Go to the website: Tattoo History Source Book: England http://www.tattoos.com/jane/england.htm
Based on the sources used by the author, would you use this page in your research? Why or why not?
_______________________________________________________________________
8. Go to the website: The Tattoo Experience http://www.everytattoo.com/tattooexperience.shtml
Look for references and sources the author of this web page used. Based on what you find, would you use this page for academic research? Why or why not?
________________________________________________________________________
9. FIND A WEB PAGE ON YOUR TOPIC AND EVALUATE IT
Name of web page: _____________________________________________________
Web page address (URL): ________________________________________________
Author: _______________________
Background information on author: _______________________________________
Is the author reliable/knowledgeable? ______________________
Company/organization that publishes the page: ______________________________
Does the web site provide information about the organization? _________________
Is this a reliable/knowledgeable publisher? __________________________________
What is the purpose of the web site?
________ To provide reliable information
________ To sell you something
________ To convince you of something
________ To entertain you
________ Other (Please describe) ________________________________________
What sources are provided? _______________________________________________
Is the information on the web site accurate? (Remember, you will need to compare the information you find on the web site with information from other sources known to be reliable.)
_______________________________________________________________________
Would you use this web page in your research? _____ Yes _____No _____Maybe
Copyright Northern Virginia Community College, Created by Anne
Anderson, Last updated March 2007