A Checklist for Evaluating Information from the World Wide Web

Remember to apply critical thinking skills to your use of the WWW. You are not only the consumer of the information, but also the editor and fact checker. There is no organization (or body) to review or check the majority of what you will view on the web.

Caveat Emptor: Let the Buyer Beware

Content	ٱ ٱ ٱ ٱ	What topics are included in the work? Is the coverage in depth? Is there new or unique information about your topic? Are there visual aids that enhance the text?
Point of View/ Objectivity	ٱ ٱ ٱ ٱ	Is the information presented as fact or opinion? Is the information presented free of bias? Is evidence provided (cited)? Is the information consistent with information from other resources?
Authority	ٱ ٱ ٱ ٱ ٱ ٱ ٱ	Is the educational/occupational background of the author/creator/compiler presented? Is the educational/occupational background related to the topic? Is the author/creator/compiler affiliated to an educational institution or other reputable organization? Is the domain edu. or gov.? Is it known what organization is responsible for the contents of the page/site? Is there contact information for the organization (phone number or address)? Can the reader send comments?
Accuracy	ٱ ٱ ٱ	Are sources for factual information clearly listed? Is the information free of grammatical, spelling, and other typographical errors? (These errors indicate a lack of quality control.) Are there editors or fact checkers for the specific page/site?
Currency	ٱ ٱ ٱ ٱ ٱ ٱ ٱ	Are there dates on the page to indicate: When the page was written/created/first put on the web? When the page was last revised/updated? Are there any other indicators that the material is kept up to date? Regardless of the date, is the information still useful? Does the web page load properly? Are there dead links? Is the web page easy to navigate or is it confusing?
Visual Argument	ٱ ٱ ٱ	Is there an emotional or cultural content in the visual argument? Is additional information conveyed by the layout? Is information missing from the visual argument?