Easy

Website Evaluation Rubric

 

Name of website__________________________________________

URL (www.…) __________________________________________________

 

Directions: Evaluate the 4 website factors on the left side of the chart. For each factor; circle A, B, or C. Then, check the chart on the bottom of this page to see if you should trust the information on the website.

 

1.  Author or sponsoring organization

A

B

C

None listed

 

Author’s name listed, but you can't tell whether author is an authority or hobbyist

Or

An organization sponsored the website, but the domain is not .edu, .gov, or .org.

Name of author listed, as well as evidence that the author is an authority

Or

Domain of sponsoring organization is .edu, .gov, or .org

 

2.   Contact information is listed (Snail-mail or email address or phone #.)

 

No

 

Yes

3.  Purpose of Website

 

To sell something or persuade or entertain (domain probably .com)

To inform or educate (domain likely to be .org, .edu, or .gov)

4. Advertising and bias

A lot of advertising and/or strong bias.

Some advertising

and/or bias.

No advertising, minimal bias. (Careful! Some .org sites have a lot of bias.)

 

 

Website Information is:

  If You Circled:

Unreliable

One or more As

Questionable

Two or more Bs

Probably Reliable

Two or more Bs, but site’s sponsor is a well-known reputable company such as National Geographic or the History Channel, and the site’s information does not serve to justify or support  the company’s product ( such as an article on a famous candy makers site describing the benefits of eating candy.

Reliable

All Cs

 

 

 

 

 

 

rubric created  by E. Goldman,  updated 5/2006