| Evaluating Web Pages |
What to look for: |
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1. Accuracy & Coverage
- Who wrote the page and can you contact
him or her?
- What is the purpose of the document and
why was it produced?
- Is this person qualified to write this
document?
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- Look at the top and bottom of the page. Make sure author provides
e-mail or a contact
address/phone number.
- Know the difference between author and
Webmaster.
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2. Authority
- Who published the document and is it
separate from the "Webmaster?"
- Check the domain of the document, what
institution publishes this document?
- Does the publisher list his or her
qualifications?
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- Where is the document published? First thing - check URL domain.
- What credentials are listed for the author(s)?
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2. Objectivity
- What goals/objectives does this page
meet?
- Are they tring to sell you, educate you or provide objective information?
- How detailed is the information?
- What opinions (if any) are expressed by
the author? Is there a 'bias'?
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- Determine if page is a mask for advertising; if so the information
might be biased. Is it a .com or a .org, for example?
- View any Web page as you would an
infommercial on television. Ask yourself why wasthis written and for
whom?
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2. Currency
- When was it produced?
- When was it updated or 'last revised'?
- How up-to-date are the links (if any)? Are there any broken links?
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- How many dead links are on the page?
- Are the links current or updated regularly?
- Is the information on the page outdated?
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