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Evaluating What You Find 

How do we know if a web site is useful, or even for real? Use the Quick Check Items below, or give the web site a score using our score sheet, and always verify the information in another source!

Score Sheet                  One-page version   

Quick Check Items

• Is the domain ending of the address appropriate for the content? Why? ex. www.nasa .gov
  .gov              government
  .edu              higher education
  .com             commercial service provider
  .net               commercial service provider
  .k12.pa.us     school district in Pennsylvania, USA
  .org               non-profit organization
  .mil                military
• Is the article a part of a database (a collection of documents or information by different authors) or is it an individual web site/home page ?  A database has an editor, who previews and evaluates the documents that go into it.
• Is the author's name given? The author may be a person, a corporation or an organization.  Be wary of information no one is willing to be responsible for!
• Is the information documented by references or a bibliography of sources? (A list of books to buy does not count).
• Is the presentation of the site professionally done, or does it look sloppy and employ flashiness and hype?
• Does the advertising/sponsorship lend credibility to the site?
• When was the site last updated?  Is that date appropriate for the content?