Evaluating Web Sources

1. Examine the domain in the Web address—the suffix at the end of the address that tells you the nature of the site: educational (.edu), government (.gov), military (.mil), nonprofit organization (.org), business/commercial (.com), and network (.net). A tilde (~) in the address usually indicates that it is a personal page rather than part of an institutional website. Make sure to assess the credibility of each site, whether it is operated by an individual, a company, a government agency, or a nonprofit group.
2. Look for an “About” link that describes the organization or a link to a page that gives more information. These sections can tell a great deal about the nature of the site’s content. Be wary of sites that do not include such a link.
3. Identify the creator of the information. If an individual operates the site—and such sites are now prolific in the form of blogs and professional profile pages—does the document provide relevant biographical information, such as links to a résumé or a listing of the author’s credentials? Look for contact information. A source that doesn’t want to be found, at least by e-mail, is not a good source to cite.

1. Check for a date that indicates when the page was placed on the Web and when it was last updated. Is the date current? Websites that do not have this information may contain outdated or inaccurate material.

1. Check that the website documents its sources. Reputable websites document the sources they use. Follow any links to these sources, and apply the same criteria to them that you did to the original source document. Verify the information you find with at least two other independent, reputable sources.