How to Evaluate Websites
ESSENTIAL QUESTION (Opener):
Why is it important to evaluate the source and validity of the information found on a Website?
Common Core Standards:
Technology Research Tools
- Students use technology to locate, evaluate and collect information from a variety of sources.
- Research and evaluate the accuracy, relevance, appropriateness, comprehensiveness, and bias of electronic information sources concerning real world problems
Brainstorming Activity:
Please begin this lesson by viewing this video on how to evaluate websites using the 5 W's: who, what, when, where and why.
Evaluating Websites
When using library databases, book sources and reference materials, these sources have been verified for accuracy and credibility by editors and publishers. Internet sites are not verified. Anyone can put anything they desire into a website and have it published. So what do you do? You must use caution and make sure the information you are using is reliable. Use this website evaluation worksheet below to help you determine if your information is factual and unbiased.
Website Evaluation Checklist
Please choose one of the following websites to use with your form to practice website evaluation. You will be the website sleuth and prove which of these sites are trustworthy and which are duds.
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/
http://www.thedogisland.com/index.html
http://www.ushmm.org/museum/
http://www.abelard.org/tv/tv.php
http://rythospital.com/
http://www.martinlutherking.org/
*If you checked only 2-4 "No" answers on your evaluation form, then you can probably trust the information on your website. If you have more than that, you should probably proceed with caution and check your facts with another reputable source.
Now find at least two reliable websites for your research paper, fill out the website evaluation forms to check them for trustworthiness, and print out a copy of the website home pages and attach them to the corresponding evaluation forms. You need to find at least two websites that meet the requirements for reliability to use for your research paper.
*If you use a website that is indexed in a library database or use Procon.org, you do not have to evaluate the source. This is only for sources that you searched for through an internet search engine.