The Internet connects millions of computers throughout the world. Everybody who has the proper equipment can also publish on the Internet. Unlike books and journal articles that are reviewed and edited before they get published, there is no such formal evaluation process for information on the Internet. Consequently, it is up to the user of those materials to judge the quality of content.

The URL is the web page address. It can give you a hint of what the web page is about. For example:

.edu - Sponsored by an American educational institution
.gov - Sponsored by a government agency
.org - Indicates an organization

Each country has its own domain:

Germany - .de
Canada - .ca
France - .fr
United Kingdom - .uk

• Who is responsible for the contents of the page? Is the author an expert in the field he/she is writing about? What are his/her credentials? Are the credentials listed?
• Is there an option to contact the author for verification or questions?
• Does the author have a reputation?
• What is the author's intention?
• Is the author affiliated with an organization? If the information comes from an organizational Web page, is it well-established and reputable organization? (For example, the American Medical Association or the National Education Association.)

• Who is the audience? General public? Scholars?
• What is the intended age group?
• Is the information intended to inform or teach, advertise, persuade, or entertain?
• Is the information presented in an objective/biased way?
• What is the purpose of the work?
• Is there advertising on the page?

**Content Accuracy**

• Has the information been reviewed or referred?
• Is the information provided complete and correct?
• Can factual information be verified in another source?
• How current is the information?
• When was the page last updated?
• Are there any spelling or grammar mistakes?
• Is a bibliography included?

• What are the selection criteria for the links?
• Are the links relevant? Are they high quality?
• Are there any dead links?

• Does the page follow good design principles?
• Are graphics adding to the content or distracting?
• How easy is the page to navigate?
  In your opinion, what are the major strengths and weaknesses?