Websites: the Good the Bad and the Ugly (Social Studies)
All websites are not created equal. Anyone can create a web page and put up any information or misinformation they want to. Don’t be fooled! Use these 5 simple criteria to tell the Good from the Bad and the Ugly.
FIVE WEB SITE EVALUATION CRITERIA
These 5 criteria will not pop up on the web pages. You have to look for them (usually from the home page). Since you have now seen how most web pages are organized you will have an idea of where to go to look to find the criteria. It’s a bit like detective work so it can be interesting. I’ve provided you with clues for finding each criterion. Go find them.
1. AUTHORITY : Who authored this site? Is the author a known person, company, or organization qualified to write on this topic?
- Are there spelling and grammar mistakes?
Are the sources of information listed 2?
- Does the information make sense?
3. CURRENCY : Is the information up-to-date enough for your topic?
- This is very important for health, science, and current event topics.
4. OBJECTIVITY/BIAS :
- Is there only one opinion or viewpoint?
- What does the Web site address end with?
- .com .org .gov .edu .html
- Are there lots of ads or pop-up ads? Do they indicate a bias?
5. CONTENT:
- Is the information on the site detailed enough to give you what you need?
NOW IT’S YOUR TURN TO SHOW WHAT YOU’VE LEARNED!
Go to this web page about evaluating web sites at Poland Regional High School.
The criteria we just discussed are listed in the first column. The reasons they are important are in the second column, and the clues for how you can tell if each criterion is met by a website are in the third column.
- Carefully read and think about the information in all three columns for the criterion “Authority”.
- Next, go to the test site in blue beneath the “Authority” criterion and apply that criterion to it.
- Use the Web Site Evaluation Rubric I give you to rate each test site’s criterion. Put the score you give each criterion in the Score column. For criteria with more than one test site, label the answers 1 & 2 for the respective sites. in the Score column.
You will be graded in this practice on neatness, participation, and attention as noted in the rubric with my name on it.
Your final test for applying web site criteria will be very similar to this practice activity so ask for help if you need it or if there is something you don’t understand. More practice and the test will be given during your next Study Skills class and will be part of your Study Skills grade. Please go to the new online Website Evaluation Tool to evaluate the websites. (You may also quickly access this tool by going to the Library Media Center link on the DISHS home page and selecting Website Evaluation Tool.)
For more examples of BAD or UGLY websites go to Webpages That Suck
Alternate site: It’s All about Trust! Anyone can create a web page and put up any information or misinformation they want to. Don’t be fooled!
- Go to this site It’s All about Trust! and follow the directions for this webquest which will give you 1) the criteria for evaluating web pages, 2) where to look for the criteria on a web site, 3) and sites on which to practice what you have learned and 4) the site to use to test what you have learned.
- The website evaluation form for this test is titled “It’s All about Trust!” and is on the long library table. Everything else you need is available on the site.
