home

**So how do you evaluate a website?? Here are some things to consider:**

 * Accuracy
 * Does the content of the page convey the amount, depth, and significance of the evidence being presented? Are the arguments persuasive?
 * Can factual information be verified through footnotes or bibliographies to other credible sources?
 * Based on what you already know does this information seem credible?
 * Are there obvious typos or misspelled words or other signs of sloppiness?
 * Authority
 * Is the author of the page clearly identified? What are his or her credentials for writing on this topic?
 * Is the author affiliated with an organization? What is the reputation of that organization?
 * Who publishes and/or is responsible for the website itself? Who has registered the URL?
 * Currency
 * Is it clear when the information was published?
 * When was it last updated?
 * If there are links to other Web pages, are they current?
 * Purpose
 * Are the purpose and objectives of the page clear?
 * Is it geared to a particular audience or level of expertise?
 * Is the primary purpose to provide information? to sell a product? to make a political point? to have fun? to parody a person or organization or idea?
 * Content
 * Is the source of any factual information clearly stated?
 * Are the source, scope and date of any statistics clearly labeled?
 * Does the page rely on photographic images to make a point? If so, be aware that digital images can be easily manipulated.

**Domain Types:** This involves examining the end of the URL. For example, if the following domain types were found in the URL, you would be able to determine where the information came from: > •**.gov** is a U.S. government site•**.mil** is a U.S. military site > •**.edu** is an accredited post-secondary educational institution > •.**com** is a commercial, for-profit entity > •**.org** is a noncommercial, not-for-profit entity > •**.net** is a computer network, particularly an Internet-related network > •**.int** is an international organization > •**.jp, .ru, .ca, .au,** etc. are country identifiers
 * Tips: Look at the Domain Name**