1. Evaluating Websites
Mrs. Rider, Librarian

2. What to look for…
 Every website should provide dates when it was
created or updated
 Check to make sure information is up to date
 See if there is a log of all changes made to the
page
**You want the most current information when
doing a paper!

3. What to look for…
Examine all sources and compare them
against each other
Check to see if the website has works cited
Does the author base his/her argument on
facts that are shown to be incorrect by other
sources?

4. What to look for…
 Is the author’s name and email provided on the
website?
 Is the author an authority in the field?
 What are the author’s qualifications?
 Is there an organization associated with the site?
 Check for author or organization biases on the
subject

5. What to look for…
Do all the links work?
Does the website design look professional?

6. What to look for…
What does the author assume you already
know? Is it basic information? Or Advanced?
Would the site be better for a general reader
or a professional?
**You don’t want a website that is too basic but
you also want to understand the information

7. What to look for…
Is the site supposed to be educational or
entertaining?
Is it informational or promotional
**You will want one that is both educational and
informational for a research project!!

8. Questions?