Website Name/Link __________________________________________________ Student Name ___________________

Questions to Consider 0 1 2 3 Score

TIMELINESS Does your topic require No date or A bit out of Generally Current and no
Is the website current info? outdated; with date for your meets your broken links
current? When was it broken links needs; a few timeliness
published? errors and criteria;
Has it been updated outdated minimal
recently? links errors or
Are the links working? broken links
RELEVANCE Does it relate to your No relevant Minimal Some Right amount
Is the website topic? information; relevant relevant of detail;
relevant for Who is the intended Inappropriate information evidence Intended for
your audience? audience appropriate
assignment? Is it appropriate? audience
Have you looked at
other sources?
ACCURACY Are claims backed by Not supported Minimal Fair amount Well-supported
Is the website evidence and list of by other citations and of by other
supported by other sources? sources; errors information sources;
evidence? Can it be verified with Poorly-written support Includes a list
another source? from other of sources; No
Are there sources; spelling or
spelling/grammar Some grammar
errors? spelling or errors
grammar
errors
AUTHOR Who is the The author is The author is The author The author’s
Is the author author/publisher? unnamed named but is named credentials are
trustworthy? Is the author an expert and/or no credentials and given and
on the topic? credentials are and contact credentials indicate that
Is the author from a given. information are given s/he is an
trusted organization? is but contact expert in the
Is contact information incomplete. information field. The
provided? The author’s is author
organization incomplete. provides an
can’t be email address
trusted. and/or contact
information.
PURPOSE To persuade, inform, This is a The purpose The purpose The purpose is
What is the entertain or sell? personal is to sell or is to inform to inform.
purpose of Is it fact or opinion? website and persuade. but some
the website? Is there any obvious has obvious There may be opinion may
bias? opinions and some factual be included.
biases. information
or useful
pictures but
the focus of
the site is to
promote
something.
SCORING TOTAL
12-15 Excellent source for research.
9-11 Good source for a research paper
or academic project. Confirm with other
sources
5-8 Website is useful for ideas or casual
projects. Do not use as a reference for a
research paper or academic project.
Less than 5 Unacceptable/Highly
questionable source