Evaluating Websites

TheC.R.A.A.P.

Test

CNN

Is the information on the page up-to-date? Can you tell when the page was last

updated? Are there dead links? Is there a difference between the date the

information was created and the date the page was last updated?

Currency

Crop Circle Connection

Is the content appropriate for your classroom or your assignment?

Is the content relevant to your topic or question?

Relevance

Monsanto

Who wrote/published the content on this website? Can you find their name? Biography? Contact

information? Can you find them named or referenced at other

sites on the web or in print? Do they have the credentials to be authoritative? Check the URL type

Authority

Dihydrogen Monoxide Research Division

Is the content accurate, complete, well-written? Where does the information in the content come

from? Is it supported by evidence/additional

links/sources? Can it be triangulated--found two or three other

places on the web?

Accuracy

Urban Institute

Why was this website created/written/published? Can I identify its bias? If there are advertisements, do they interfere with

your ability to use the page? Is the information clearly presented? Are the pages well organized? Are there mistakes in spelling or word usage?

Purpose

Test Sites:

All About ExplorersDihydrogen Monoxide Research DivisionCalifornia’s Velcro Crop Under ChallengeFeline Reactions to Bearded MenPacific Northwest Tree OctopusAluminum Foil Deflector BeanieBritish Stick Insect FoundationThe Jackalope ConspiracyBuy Dehydrated WaterRepublic of MolossiaDog Island

Websites vs. Databases What’s the difference?

Databases are usually collections of articles from a variety of sources that have been written and peer reviewed by scholars. Databases are not accessible to the general public without a paid subscription usually through a library or school.

Websites are free and open to the public. Anyone can create a webpage about any subject, whether or not they are an expert.

Wikipedia◦ Wikipedia is an open access encyclopedia that anyone can

contribute to and edit. It’s best to use Wikipedia to gather key words and people at the beginning of your research, but it cannot be cited as an academic source.

Some other things…