SUBJECT LIBGUIDE: EVALUATING RESOURCES: Evaluating a Website

What is the content?

• Is the page organized?
• Are their grammar errors?
• What language is being used?
• Are the links relevant and appropriate?
• Is the content biased (liberal, conservative, association/advocacy groups, businesses, etc.?
• Questions such as these look at the content to allow the reader to evaluate if it is a reputable source?
• These are a few questions readers need to ask.

How old is the content?

• When was the website updated?
• When was the website revised?
• Do any links used in content lead to working pages or unavailable pages?

Relevance

• Is the webpage up to date with current research?
• Is it useful?
• Does it support or argue against an argument or main point of the page?
• Does it support arguments with evidence?
• Does it provide information that can be challenged and provide partial information?

What is the purpose?

• Informing the reader: What is being informed?
• Entertaining the reader: Is this meant for entertainment purposes?
• Sharing information with the reader: What does the author share with the reader?
• Advertising/selling: Is the author trying to sell a product, service or similar concept?
• Advocacy: Is the author trying to influence views, beliefs, elections, pros/cons and more?
• Recruitment: Is the author trying to encourage membership?
• Current news & information: Is the reader providing updates such as sports, events, tv, news, etc.?
• Questions such as these address the purpose of the page. The reader evaluates the author's purpose of the source?
• These are some examples of types of purposes authors present in articles.

Who is the Author?

• Is the author a government agency?
• Is the author a higher education institution?
• Is the author a business?
• Is the author an association?
• Is the author a news source?
• Is the author an individual?
• Is the author anonymous?

What is the background of the author?

• Is there information on the author's background and can it be verified?
• Is the author qualified to speak on the subject being written?
• Questions such as these addresses if the content is correct or biased?