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Western High School Media Center Trailblazer* Website Evaluation Compiled by Mrs. Gruenthal, Library Media Teacher
"Doing research on the Web is like using a library assembled piecemeal by pack rats and vandalized nightly."
Why should you evaluate webpages? Anyone with a computer can put up a webpage. You do not know who they are, or if they are qualified to talk about the subject you are researching. Before you use a website, look to see who is sponsoring the page. If you can't figure out who has produced it, don't use it.
More Information: Bottom Line: Is the web page as good (or better than) what you could find in journal articles or other published literature that is not on the free, general web? Here are some fake websites. For some, it's easy to see they are fake. On others, it may be hard to tell: Funny Sites:
Scary Sites (By "scary" I mean really misleading if used for a report):
Choose one website you want to use for your report and evaluate it using the WebSite Worksheet
Credibility trustworthy source, author’s credentials, evidence of quality control, known or respected authority, organizational support. Goal: an authoritative source, a source that supplies some good evidence that allows you to trust it. Accuracy up to date, factual, detailed, exact, comprehensive, audience and purpose reflect intentions of completeness and accuracy. Goal: a source that is correct today (not yesterday), a source that gives the whole truth. Reasonableness fair, balanced, objective, reasoned, no conflict of interest, absence of fallacies or slanted tone. Goal: a source that engages the subject thoughtfully and reasonably, concerned with the truth. Support listed sources, contact information, available corroboration, claims supported, documentation supplied. Goal: a source that provides convincing evidence for the claims made, a source you can triangulate (find at least two other sources that support it). The bottom line is be careful when using the World Wide Web. Recommended Sites: *What is a Trailblazer? A Trailblazer is a document compiled by the Library Media Teacher to help students find resources for an assignment given by a specific teacher. Trailblazers can be requested by Western High School Teachers when collaborating with the Library Media Teacher on a Research Project.
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