Questions to ask when evaluating a website:
Does the site look professional? Generally, a website with a shoddy appearance is one to stay away from.
Are there spelling or grammar errors? That’s a bad sign.
What does the link end in? ".gov” signifies a federal government site,“.k12” means a K-12 school district, “.edu” usually means college or university, etc.
Who’s the author or creator of the site? If you can’t find one, that’s a bad sign. Why wouldn't someone want to take credit for the content?
What’s the purpose of the site? Is it trying to sell you something, educate people, persuade you of an opinion, etc.? Consider the individual or group putting this site out there. What are they trying to accomplish?
Is the information current, meaning, has the site been updated recently? Reliable websites update when needed.
Are there obvious errors in content? Check information against other sources to see what's legitimate.
Does the site list sources for factual information? (Look for footnotes, a bibliography, or a list of works cited.) If it does, that's a good thing!
Are there spelling or grammar errors? That’s a bad sign.
What does the link end in? ".gov” signifies a federal government site,“.k12” means a K-12 school district, “.edu” usually means college or university, etc.
Who’s the author or creator of the site? If you can’t find one, that’s a bad sign. Why wouldn't someone want to take credit for the content?
What’s the purpose of the site? Is it trying to sell you something, educate people, persuade you of an opinion, etc.? Consider the individual or group putting this site out there. What are they trying to accomplish?
Is the information current, meaning, has the site been updated recently? Reliable websites update when needed.
Are there obvious errors in content? Check information against other sources to see what's legitimate.
Does the site list sources for factual information? (Look for footnotes, a bibliography, or a list of works cited.) If it does, that's a good thing!