How to be a "Web Detective."                       

Authority: It is important to know the author of the site. Look for the name of the organization that sponsors the website to verify their credentials.

Simply check the URL for a ~ meaning a personal website.

For academic assignments use domains such as edu., org., or gov.

Objectivity: When evaluating a website ask yourself the following questions.

1. Is the purpose to "inform" or "influence" the audience?

2. What is the author's point of view? Is there clear bias?

3. What is the tone of the page? Is it humorous? Is it exaggerated?

Currency:The internet provides research advantage because it can be updated frequently. Look for the date of the last revision to know when it was updated and the date of publication which is when the website was created. Check the links!

Design and Style: Is the site user friendly? A site should be easy to navigate and neat in appearance without information overload.