Think critically about all information that you encounter. Thinking critically about information is especially important when considering online resources because there are no rules on the World Wide Web. Anyone is free to post anything on the web regardless of the veracity of the information or the expertise or intentions of the writer.

Be sure to cite your sites:

Author. "Page Title." Web Site. Date on Web Site. < URL > (Date page viewed).

The checklist will help you to evaluate information in all formats.

AUTHORSHIP? WHO? QUALIFICATIONS? AFFILIATIONS?

• Who is the author?
• Does the author have an association with a university, company, or organization?
• Is the author considered an expert on the subject?
• Is there a way to contact the author?

• Is there an obvious point of view or favour given to one side of an issue?
• Is the language used emotional or sensational?
• Is the author trying to convince or persuade?
• Does the author have a specific agenda or purpose?

While it is important to recognize these factors, it does not necessarily exclude the use of this information. Consider the facts presented and verify them with other sources.

CONTENT AND SCOPE OF COVERAGE?

• Are sources cited?
• Is the site comprehensive or is there limited information?
• Are there useful links?
• Would you find more useful information elsewhere? i.e. In other formats?
• Is the information at a suitable level? Does it make sense to you?
• Is the information relevant? Does the information meet your research needs?

• When was the site last updated? If you are dealing with a current issue, has anything happened since the last update that would make the information invalid or out of date?
• Are there dead links? (A problem when a site is not kept up-to-date.)
• Note: For historical topics that are not time sensitive and where the information is contained on the web site, updates are not as important.

• .edu is an education site.
  This may or may not guarantee authority. Be careful!
  Not all education sites have a .edu address. e.g., our library is .vsb.bc.ca (Vancouver School Board, British Columbia, Canada)
• .org is an organization.
  This address may also be used for a school.
• .com is a commercial enterprise, company. e.g., cnn.com.
• .gov is a government or government department.
• .ca is Canada.
  There are two letter addresses for countries.
  In the USA and Canada these may follow a two letter address for province or state. e.g., bc.ca for BC, ca.us for California.

• Is the web site recommended by an educational institution? A university, school library, public library?
• Is the web site recommended in a curriculum database or a textbook?

• This is the most important step in making sure that you have reliable information.
• Is the information accurate?
• Find other sources that support the facts.
• Find out about the author.
  Check for magazine articles, books, biographies, articles by and about the author.