1. Site
a. Is the site recognized in the field?
b. Is the site suited to address the subject?
c. Who sponsors the site?
d. Is the author or web page creator biased by being affiliated with the web site?
e. Type of site? Remember, many domain names can be bought, including .org sites.
1) .com = commercial
2) .net = networking (or ISP)
3) .edu = educational
4) .gov = government
5) .mil = military
6) .org = organization
f. Make sure the site is not a spoof site. For instance, check these sites and if they are real.
1) http://www.dhmo.org
2) http://zapatopi.net/treeoctopus/
3) http://lme.mnsu.edu/akcj3/bmd.html
4) http://www.rythospital.com/2008/
5) http://www.whitehouse.net
6) http://city-mankato.us/
7) http://www.mcwhortle.com/
8) http://www.thepregnancytester.com/
g. If the web page to which you are going is long, go to the root address up to the .com. What does the main home page tell you?
h. What is the value of this site when compared to other sites?
2. Author
a. Can you find the author or web page creator?
b. Does the author clearly show his position? Can you detect bias?
c. Can you find any biographical infromation about the page creator?
d. Any qualifications?
e. Any contact information?
3. Is the information current? Is there a date indicated anywhere?
4. Graphics - Is the page more visual than textual? Do you see advertisements? If so, what kind? Sponsor ad or "buy this porduct" ad?
5. Links
a. Are they relevant to your topic?
b. Are they inward links (staying in that organization's site) or are they external (linking outside the organization)?
c. Anything unique about the links?
d. Is there any new or unique to the information on this web site?