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= Evaluating Web Pages =
 * Checklist of Questions ​ Sample Websites Sites of Local Interest**

Created by Rebecca Lawson
With over 1.5 million web pages being added to the web each day, it is impossible for anyone to verify all the information that is available on the web. Therefore, students must learn to be wise consumers and users of the Web.

One step in this process is learning some guidelines to use in determining whether a website is accurate and whether it is a valuable source of the information a person needs.

Criteria for Evaluating Web Resources

 * * Purpose
 * Authority
 * Objectivity
 * Appropriateness || * Currency
 * Responsibility
 * Clarity
 * Accessibility ||

Purposes of Web Sites

 * * commercial
 * informative
 * educational
 * entertaining || * persuasive
 * personal
 * institutional
 * a hoax ||

Using URLs and Domain Names to Judge the Validity of a Web Site
The URL of a web page can sometimes give a clue to the mystery of whether the site includes accurate information. The domain name will many times give the name of the owner of the page. The last syllable of the domain name may give a hint about the function of the page's owner. The following are examples of the final syllable of domain names along with their functions:

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 * .mil || Military Site ||  || .gov || Government Agency ||
 * .com || Commercial Site ||  || .edu || Higher Education ||
 * .org || Organization - charitable, religious, or lobbying group ||  || .ca || Canadian Site (Each country has its own abbreviation.) ||
 * ~ || ("tilde") Personal Site ||  || .net || Internet Service Provider (ISP) ||

= A Checklist of Questions for Evaluating Web Sites =
 * Does the URL of the site give you any clues about whether you can trust the information?


 * Who is the author/source of the information? Is the person qualified to write about this topic?


 * Does the site have links to other valid sites?


 * Who links to the site? Do other reputable sources think this is a site with good information?


 * Is the information on the site accurate? Can you find any errors in the facts or in the writing?


 * Is the site written well?


 * Is the information presented in an objective/balanced manner, or do you believe the information is biased?


 * If the site is sponsored by/for a business or an organization, do you believe the sponsor is being totally truthful in providing the information or is there a reason to present only one view?


 * How current is the information? Does it matter if the information is up-to-date?


 * Is the site worth the time it takes you to use it?
 * Is the site organized well?
 * Is it easy for you to find the information you need?
 * Does the site load quickly?
 * Do the links on the page work, or does the site look as if it has not been checked recently?
 * How does the site compare with other sites about this topic? Would it be better to use a different site?


 * Does the site tell you when it was last updated?


 * Do illustrations, video, or audio add value to the site?

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= Websites to consider = [|American Cancer Society]

[|The White House]

[|National Archives]

[|Kids Health]

[|Dihydrogen Monoxide Research] @http://www.dhmo.org/

[|Aluminum Foil Deflector Beanies] @http://zapatopi.net/afdb/

[|American Diabetes Association] - @http://www.diabetes.org/

[|Facts about the Civil War] @http://www.idiotica.com/cranium/encyclopedia/content/civilwar.htm

[|American Cancer Society] - @http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp

[|California's Velcro Crop Under Challenge]@http://home.inreach.com/kumbach/velcro.html

[|Internet Public Library] @http://www.ipl.org/

[|Official Mankato Website] @http://city-mankato.us/

[|The Presidents of the United States] @http://www.potus.com/

[|Susan G. Komen for the Cure]

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= Sites of Local Interest =

[|Carowinds] [|http://www.carowinds.com]

[|City of York]- @http://www.yorkcitysc.com/

[|Clemson University] [|http://www.clemson.edu]

[|The Herald] [|http://www.heraldonline.com]

[|Museum of York County] []

[|University of South Carolina] []

[|Winthrop University] [|http://www.winthrop.edu]

[|York County Government] - @http://www.yorkcountygov.com/

[|York County Library] []

[|York School District 1] [|http://www.york.k12.sc.us]

[|York Technical College] []

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=Sources used in the creation of this wiki include the following:=

Fitzgerald, Mary Ann. "Evaluating Information: An Information Literacy Challenge." American Association of School Librarians. 27 September 2006. Web. 23 April 2010. <[]>.

Homework Center. "Evaluating Web Sites." Multnomah County Library. 8 October 2009 Web. 23 April 2010. <@http://www.multcolib.org/homework/webeval.html>.

Johnson, Larry and Annette Lamb. "Evaluating Internet Resources." Eduscapes. June 2007. Web. 23 April 2010. <[]>.

Lesley University Library. "Evaluating Websites." Lesley University. 3 December 2007. Web. 23 April 2010. <[]>.

Regents of the University of California. "Evaluating Web Pages: Techniques to Apply and Questions to Ask." UC Berkeley - Teaching Library Internet Workshops. 8 January 2010. Web. 23 April 2010. <[]>.

Schrock, Kathleen. "Critical Evaluation Surveys and Resources." Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators. Web. 23 April 2010. <[]>.

UNC University Libraries. "Evaluating Information: Websites." University of North Carolina. 15 July 2008. Web. 23 April 2010. []

Westcott, Frank. "Intentionally Misleading Websites." Tech & Learning. 1 April 2005. Web. 23 April 2010. <[]>.

Created on April 23, 2010 for students at York One Academy, York School District 1 (SC) by Rebecca R. Lawson, NBCT.

Other sites by this author: Engaging Middle Level Learners with Media and Technology http://engaging-learning.wikispaces.com/

PBS Media Infusion Blog: Meeting the Needs of Adolescent Learners with Media and Technology []