This document provides a rubric to evaluate websites with 15 criteria scored from 0 to 10 points. The criteria assess the accuracy, relevance, balance, authority of the author and publisher, ease of use, and presence of ads. Websites scoring over 115 total points are considered reliable for academic use while those under 115 have questionable quality, accuracy or intent. The rubric is intended to help students critically evaluate websites for research.

1. Worksheet for Evaluating Web sites
Web site evaluated ______________________________________________________________
Rate Web sites using this rubric:
Criteria 10 Points 5 Points 0 Points
1 Is the information Yes, I’ve read it and Probably but not Maybe not.
accurate? it seems accurate to sure.
me.
2 Is the information Yes, the answer to It’s relevant to the No, this site does
relevant? my research topic but does not not answer my
question is here. answer my question. research question.
3 Is the information Balances points with Presents facts with Biased, meaning to
balanced? contrary views. Little analysis or sell or persuade, or
criticism. presented as a
joke.
4 What about the Trusted authority. Seems ok but can’t Private individual
author? really tell. could be anyone.
5 Can you contact Name and contact Name or institution No contact info, no
the author or given with link to given, but no link to home page.
institution? home page. contact.
6 Who publishes Trusted institution, Some kind of A private
the site? links back to home institution looks real individual.
page. but not sure.
7 Domain name? .edu or .gc.ca or .gov .org or .net .com or tilde (~) or
or .ab.ca or .on.ca can’t tell
8 Is a date given? Yes, and it is up-to Yes but out-of-date. Doesn’t say, no
date. date on site.
9 Readability? Easy to read. Hard to read. Impossible to read.
10 Accuracy? Clear expression, no One or two typos. Grammatical errors
mistakes. and misspellings.
Created March 10, 2011 / Julie Anne Kent, Hons., BA, MLIS
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2. 11 Are the graphics Helpful illustrations, Illustrations distract No graphics.
helpful? fast loading. or hard to
download.
12 Is the information Many references Few references and No references.
referenced? and links. links.
13 Navigation? Easy to browse and Info is there, but not No navigation aids.
find information. easy to find.
14 Ads and pop-ups? No commercials, ads Some, but not Too many, too
or pop-ups. distracting or are commercial.
associated with the
web site’s owner or
association.
15 A free site? All free. Some free stuff but Pay, subscribe, or
some materials and only get a free trial.
information for
which you must pay.
Total per column
Add up total from each column for web site’s total score: ________
Total score available is 150 possible points. Web sites scoring over 115 points might be
considered reliable and relevant for use in your assignments. Those web sites scoring less than
115 points are suspicious of intent, quality, accuracy, and reliability and perhaps not acceptable
for your academic work.
Adopted by Julie Anne Kent from original work by Vance Stevens http://www.vancestevens.com .
Freely shareable for non commercial use under Creative Commons License.
Created March 10, 2011 / Julie Anne Kent, Hons., BA, MLIS
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