1. Evaluating a Web Site Who is the author of the web page? Is the information in the web page accurate? Is the information on the web page objective? Is the information on the web page current?

2. Authority Who is the author? What are the qualifications of the author? Does the author appear to be part of an organization? Is the author the creator of the web page? Can the author be reached for questions or comments?

3. Accuracy Can the information on the page be found in a non-related source? Does the web page give sources for the information found on the page? Does the web page contain grammatical and spelling errors?

4. Objectivity Is the web page attempting to inform, entertain and/or sell? Do organizations which provide information have a clearly stated bias or viewpoint? What types of web pages link to the web page that I’m reading? Do the links from the web page meet the same criteria?

5. Currency When was the web page last updated? What is the date of the source of information found in text, graphs, maps and charts?

6. Let’s Look at Some Examples… Authority http://www.ciolek.comhttp://www.ciolek.com Accuracy http://www.unaids.org/en/default.asp http://www.unaids.org/en/default.asp Objectivity http://www.katsherbs.com/herbalife/ http://www.katsherbs.com/herbalife/ Currency http://www.cia.gov/terrorism/http://www.cia.gov/terrorism/

7. What do web domains tell you? Top DomainsUsers.com Originally for business: now used by anyone, anywhere.net Used by the group maintaining the internet, but also used by anyone, anywhere..org Miscellaneous organizations: many nonprofit organizations..gov Used by the U.S. federal government.edu Used by colleges and schools grade 1-12..mil U.S. Military

8. Bibliography O’Donnell, J. “Verifying Websites.” Andrew HS. 16, Aug. 2001. Tinley Park, Ill. 15 Nov. 2002. <http://www.d230.org/vja/staff/www/ verify2/verifyframe.htm>