Online Databases

Evaluating Sources

Evaluating Websites

A Guide to Critical Thinking About What You See on the Web

Web Research Guide What do you know?

Print out and use this worksheet to evalute websites - (Adapted from Loertscher, D. V., & Achterman, D. (2003). Increasing Academic Achievement Through the Library Media Center: A Guide for Teachers (2nd ed.). Salt Lake City, Utah: Hi Willow Research and Publishing)

Remember the 6 main issues to address when evaluating websites: Authority: Who are the authors and what makes them experts? Accuracy: Are the facts accurate? Can you find info to verify what it says? Objectivity: What is the purpose of the site? What are the author's biases? Currency: When was the page created or last updated? Coverage: Does the site provide the info you need to address your topic? Value: Was the site free of errors? Was the information on the site valuable to your research?

(adapted from Henderson, J. R. (2006, August 26). ICYouSee: A Guide to Critical Thinking About What You See on the Web. Retrieved February 14, 2007, from http://www.ithaca.edu/library/training/think.html)