Reliable SourcesGood or Bad

Authorship

Who wrote the website?

Copyright information

Reputable organization

Author’s affiliations and/or biographical information.

Are these credentials verifiable?

Is the author an authority on the subject?

Is contact information included?

Agenda

Consider who is sponsoring the Web page to determine potential biases.

Is it a commercial site (.com)?

Are there potential conflicts of interest?

Jinkies! A Clue! ~[til-duh]

Beware the tilde (~)! Use of this symbol in a Web address usually indicates an individual not an organization

An individual may not be bound by the same rigorous standards that reputable organizations apply to the material they distribute.

Be careful of pages from online community sites & sites posted through Internet service providers.

Sponsorship

Consider the purpose of the page and its target audience.

Banner advertising, reading level and the use of animation may be an indication.

Tone & Emotion

Expiration???

Dates on Web pages do not necessarily indicate that the information provided is up to date.

Compare the information found online with other sources.

Fact Check

Does the Web page document sources for its “facts?”

Academic Web pages often include bibliographies.

Don’t skip over these assuming that the information provided must be credible if sources are cited.

Something is not right!

Go with your instincts.

If you suspect a Web page may not be legitimate, it probably isn’t.