This guide outlines criteria for evaluating
resources from the World Wide Web. This checklist will help you determine
whether or not you should use a particular website for your research papers.
Today's Date:
Title of Site:
URL (web address):
Author's Name:
Date of publication or last revision:
Evaluate the web sited based on the following criteria, circling either Y (Yes) or N (No)
for each.
Authority
1.
Author/Organization is identifiable, i.e., biographical information about the author or institutional affiliation and addresses are offered. YES
NO
2. Sponsor/location of the site (identified
by the URL or web address) is appropriate to the website's material,
i.e., .edu for educational research material. YES
NO
3. Contact information for the author or producer is included in the document. YES NO
4. Mail-to link is offered for submission
of questions or comments. YES
NO
Scope
5. Document
includes a list of additional print and electronic sources. YES
NO
6. Links included appear relevant and
appropriate to the site. YES
NO
Currency
7. Document
includes a publication date or "last updated" date that is
current. YES
NO
8. Document includes a date of
copyright/publication. YES
NO
Purpose
9. Intended
audience is easily identifiable. YES
NO
10. Intent of information (to inform,
teach, sell, persuade, entertain or enlighten) is clearly stated or
implied. YES
NO
Accuracy
11. Document includes a
bibliography. YES
NO
12. Author alludes to or displays knowledge
of related sources, with proper attribution. YES
NO
13. Author provides both sides of the
argument with no evidence of bias. YES
NO
Usability
14. Site is
laid out clearly and logically with well-organized sub-sections. YES
NO
15. Site is easy to navigate, included clearly labeled Back, Home, Go
to Top icons/links and internal indexing on lengthy pages. YES
NO
16. Site loads quickly and is readily
accessible. YES
NO
17. Graphics and art serve a function. YES
NO
18. All links to remote sites work. YES
NO
19. Writing style is appropriate for the intended audience. YES
NO
20. Text follows basic rules of grammar, spelling and literary
composition. YES
NO
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Last Update: May 21, 2007
This page maintained by:williamsl(at)uncw.edu
