Evaluating Web Pages
    Web sites can be divided into four types: personal, news, informational, and advocacy web pages. In examining content, they are most easily evaluated in five broadly-defined areas: authority, accuracy, objectivity, currency, and coverage.  Keep in mind, however, that a sixth element often affects readers more profoundly than a web page's content: ease of use. How often have you clicked the "back" button on your browser, because the web page you were trying to examine was loading so slowly? These pages frequently use "animated GIFs," banner advertising, or "pop-up windows"--any web page builder, particularly those new to web page design, who uses these devices deserves what she or he gets...
    The following rubrics should help you decide what type of web page you're visiting. The authors have opened these documents for copying and use anywhere, as long as the user copies the complete document and the copyright information. Click on the buttons to access the appropriate information.

Checklist for a Personal Web Page
Checklist for a News Web Page
Checklist for an Informational Web Page
Checklist for an Advocacy Web Page
 A Sample Web Page Evaluation Form

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Checklist for a Personal Web Page

How to Recognize a Personal Web Page

A Personal Web Page is one published by an individual who may or may not be affiliated with a larger institution. Although the URL address of the page may have a variety of endings (e.g. .com, .edu, etc.), a tilde (~) is frequently embedded somewhere in the URL.

Questions to Ask About the Web Page

Note: The greater number of questions listed below answered "yes", the more likely it is you can determine whether the source is of high information quality.

Criterion #1: AUTHORITY

  1. Is it clear what individual is responsible for the contents of the page?
    2.
  2. Does the individual responsible for the page indicate his or her qualifications for writing on this topic?
  3. Is there a way of verifying the legitimacy of this individual?
    4.  (Because it is difficult to verify the legitimacy of an individual, personal home pages may be a useful source for personal opinion but use extreme caution when using them as a source for factual information.)

Criterion #2: ACCURACY

  1. Are the sources for any factual information clearly listed so they can be verified in another source? (If not, the page may still be useful to you as an example of the ideas of the individual, but it is not useful as a source of factual information.)
  2. Is the information free of grammatical, spelling, and other typographical errors? (These kinds of errors not only indicate a lack of quality control, but can actually produce inaccuracies in information.)

Criterion #3: OBJECTIVITY

  1. Are the person's biases clearly stated?

Criterion #4: CURRENCY

  1. Are there dates on the page to indicate:
    1. When the page was written?
    2. When the page was first placed on the Web?
    3. When the page was last revised?
  2. Are there any other indications that the material is kept current?

Criterion #5: COVERAGE

  1. Is there an indication that the page has been completed, and is not still under construction?

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Checklist for a News Web Page

How to Recognize a News Web Page

A News Web Page is one whose primary purpose is to provide extremely current information. The URL address of the page usually ends in .com (commercial).
Examples: USA Today, Philadelphia Inquirer, CNN

Questions to Ask About the Web Page

Note: The greater number of questions listed below answered "yes", the more likely it is you can determine whether the source is of high information quality.

Criterion #1: AUTHORITY

  1. Is it clear what company or individual is responsible for the contents of the page?
    2.
  2. Is there a link to a page describing the goals of the company?
  3. Is there a way of verifying the legitimacy of the company? That is, is there a phone number or postal address to contact for more information? (Simply an email address is not enough).
    4.
  4. Is there a non-Web equivalent version of this material which would provide a way of verifying its legitimacy?
  5. If the page contains an individual article, do you know who wrote the article and his or her qualifications for writing on this topic?
  6. Is it clear who is ultimately responsible for the content of the material?
  7. Is there a statement giving the company's name as copyright holder?

Criterion #2: ACCURACY

  1. Are sources for factual information clearly listed so they can be verified in another source?
  2. Are there editors monitoring the accuracy of the information being published?
  3. Is the information free of grammatical, spelling, and other typographical errors? (These kinds of errors not only indicate a lack of quality control, but can actually produce inaccuracies in information).

Criterion #3: OBJECTIVITY

  1. Is the informational content clearly separated from the advertising and opinion content?
  2. Are the editorials and opinion pieces clearly labeled?

Criterion #4: CURRENCY

  1. Is there a link to an informational page which describes how frequently the material is updated?
  2. Is there an indication of when the page was last updated?
  3. Is there a date on the page to indicate when the page was placed on the Web?
    1. If a newspaper, does it indicate what edition of the paper the page belongs to?
    2. If a broadcast, does it indicate the date and time the information on the page was originally broadcast?

Criterion #5: COVERAGE

  1. Is there a link to an informational page which describes the coverage of the source?
  2. If you are evaluating a newspaper page and there is a print equivalent, is there an indication of whether the Web coverage is more or less extensive than the print version?

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Checklist for an Informational Web Page

How to Recognize an Informational Web Page

An Informational Web Page is one whose purpose is to present factual information. The URL Address frequently ends in .edu or .gov, as many of these pages are sponsored by educational institutions or government agencies.
Examples: Dictionaries, thesauri, directories, transportation schedules, calendars of events, statistical data, and other factual information such as reports, presentations of research, or information about a topic.

Questions to Ask About the Web Page

Note: The greater number of questions listed below answered "yes", the more likely it is you can determine whether the source is of high information quality.

Criterion #1: AUTHORITY

  1. Is it clear who is responsible for the contents of the page?
    2.
  2. Is there a link to a page describing the purpose of the sponsoring organization?
  3. Is there a way of verifying the legitimacy of the page's sponsor? That is, is there a phone number or postal address to contact for more information? (Simply an email address is not enough).
    4.
  4. Is it clear who wrote the material and are the author's qualifications for writing on this topic clearly stated?
  5. If the material is protected by copyright, is the name of the copyright holder given?

Criterion #2: ACCURACY

  1. Are the sources for any factual information clearly listed so they can be verified in another source?
  2. Is the information free of grammatical, spelling, and other typographical errors? (These kinds of errors not only indicate a lack of quality control, but can actually produce inaccuracies in information).
  3. Is it clear who has the ultimate responsibility for the accuracy of the content of the material?
  4. If there are charts and/or graphs containing statistical data, are the charts and/or graphs clearly labeled and easy to read?

Criterion #3: OBJECTIVITY

  1. Is the information provided as a public service?
  2. Is the information free of advertising?
  3. If there is any advertising on the page, is it clearly differentiated from the informational content?

Criterion #4: CURRENCY

  1. Are there dates on the page to indicate:
    1. When the page was written?
    2. When the page was first placed on the Web?
    3. When the page was last revised?
  2. Are there any other indications that the material is kept current?
  3. If material is presented in graphs and/or charts, is it clearly stated when the data was gathered?
  4. If the information is published in different editions, is it clearly labeled what edition the page is from?

Criterion #5: COVERAGE

  1. Is there an indication that the page has been completed, and is not still under construction?
  2. If there is a print equivalent to the Web page, is there a clear indication of whether the entire work is available on the Web or only parts of it?
  3. If the material is from a work which is out of copyright (as is often the case with a dictionary or thesaurus) has there been an effort to update the material to make it more current?

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Checklist for an Advocacy Web Page

How to Recognize an Advocacy Web Page

An Advocacy Web Page is one sponsored by an organization attempting to influence public opinion (that is, one trying to sell ideas). The URL address of the page frequently ends in .org (organization).
Examples: National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League, the National Right to Life Committee, the Democratic Party, the Republican Party

Questions to Ask About the Web Page

Note: The greater number of questions listed below answered "yes", the more likely it is you can determine whether the source is of high information quality.

Criterion #1: AUTHORITY

  1. Is it clear what organization is responsible for the contents of the page?
    2.
  2. Is there a link to a page describing the goals of the organization?
  3. Is there a way of verifying the legitimacy of this organization? That is, is there a phone number or postal address to contact for more information? (Simply an email address is not enough).
    4.
  4. Is there a statement that the content of the page has the official approval of the organization?
  5. Is it clear whether this is a page from the national or local chapter of the organization?
  6. Is there a statement giving the organization's name as copyright holder?

Criterion #2: ACCURACY

  1. Are the sources for any factual information clearly listed so they can be verified in another source? (If not, the page may still be useful to you as an example of the ideas of the organization, but it is not useful as a source of factual information).
  2. Is the information free of grammatical, spelling, and other typographical errors? (These kinds of errors not only indicate a lack of quality control, but can actually produce inaccuracies in information).

Criterion #3: OBJECTIVITY

  1. Are the organization's biases clearly stated?
  2. If there is any advertising on the page, is it clearly differentiated from the informational content?

Criterion #4: CURRENCY

  1. Are there dates on the page to indicate:
    1. When the page was written?
    2. When the page was first placed on the Web?
    3. When the page was last revised?
  2. Are there any other indications that the material is kept current?

Criterion #5: COVERAGE

  1. Is there an indication that the page has been completed, and is not still under construction?
  2. Is it clear what topics the page intends to address?
  3. Does the page succeed in addressing these topics, or has something significant been left out?
  4. Is the point of view of the organization presented in a clear manner with its arguments well supported?

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Copyright: Jan Alexander & Marsha Ann Tate 1996-1999
Adapted: Dr. D.E. Haley, 2000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Web Site Evaluation Form

Name:

Course:

URL:

Site:

Type:

Date:

 Rating: Use the rubric for web site evaluations to rank this site in these five areas. The better the rating, the higher the number (i.e., 5 = excellent and 1 = awful)

Authority

Accuracy

Objectivity

Currency

Coverage

1

2

3

4

5

Why did you choose this web site/page?

 ____________________________________________________________________________

 ____________________________________________________________________________

 ____________________________________________________________________________

List at least one thing you particularly liked about this web site/page:

 ____________________________________________________________________________

 ____________________________________________________________________________

 ____________________________________________________________________________

List at least one thing you would change, to improve this web site/page:

 ____________________________________________________________________________

 ____________________________________________________________________________

 ____________________________________________________________________________

Instructions:

Fill out this form completely.

If you are given a selection of web sites or web pages from which to choose—DO SO! You may choose your own site(s) to evaluate only when your instructor gives you permission.

Any web site evaluations should be included in your portfolio.

If you decide to revise an evaluation, check the upper right-hand corner of this form before you remove it from your Portfolio. If you see your instructor’s initials there, do not remove the form.

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