The document provides guidance on evaluating websites using the REAL criteria: R-Read the URL to analyze the domain extension and check for potential biases. E-Examine the content for accuracy, objectivity, currency and level of detail. A-Ask about the author and owner by looking for credentials and contact information. L-Look at the links by analyzing forward and back links for consistency and credibility. Students are instructed to apply the REAL criteria to critically evaluate websites and locate authentic information for research. Examples are provided to demonstrate how to analyze URLs, content, authors and links.

1. Web Evaluation
Get Real with Web Evaluation

2. Objective
• When searching the Internet for
information, students will be able
to critically evaluate web sites to
locate authentic sites using the
REAL evaluation process.

3. Get REAL
With Web Evaluation
R = Read the URL
E = Examine the Content
A = Ask About the Author and Owner
L = Look at the Links

4. Read the URL Country Codes
.at Austria
http://www.cnn.com .au Australia
.ca Canada
.ch Switzerland
http://support.microsoft.com .cn China
.de Germany
.es Spain
http://sahistory.org.za Web Extensions
.et Ethiopia
.fr France
.edu Higher Education (most U.S. colleges)
.gr Greece
http://www.kiwirecovery.org.nz/
.k12
.sch
U.S. School Site (not all U.S. schools use this)
Schools in the United Kingdom (not all U.K. .ie Ireland this)
schools use
.ac .in India
Academic Institution (usually outside of the United States)
.com Commercial .iq Iraq
http://www.moma.org/learn/
.org
.gov
Any Organization
Government Agency
.it Italy
.jp Japan
.net Network .nz New Zealand
http://www.sandiegozoo.org/teachers/_ classroom_acti
.mil U.S. Military
.pk Pakistan
.uk United Kingdom
.us United States
.za South Africa

5. Personal Page
• http://pubweb.northwestern.edu/~abutz.intro
• ~ = tilde
• May contain biased opinions.
• % may also indicate personal info.

6. Examine the Content
Is the information on the site helpful?
Does the site have more resources and links?
Is the site up to date? Can I tell when it was last updated?
Is the information correct?
Are the facts different from information I have found elsewhere?
Complete the worksheet for the following 3 sites.
• http://www.frogsonice.com/froggy/
• http://www.exploratorium.edu/frogs/index.html
• http://www.froggyville.com/index.php

7. Ask About the Author and Owner
Is the author’s name on the site?
Is there a contact person or email address?
Is there any information about the author?
Does the author know the topic well? Is he or she an expert?
Go to the following sites and ask the questions above.
• http://www.lobsterlib.com/index.html
• http://www.improbable.com/airchives/classical/cat/cat.ht
• http://www.georgetown.edu/faculty/jod/
• http://home.inreach.com/kumbach/velcro.html

8. Look at the Links
Forward Links:
• What are the URLs of the forward links?
• Do the domain names change? (Same person/group writing everything)
• Is the information biased?
Back Links:
• Who is linked to the Web site?
• Why are they linked?
• What do other sites say about the information on
the site?

9. Forward Links
• http://zapatopi.net/treeoctopus/
• Are there any links on this site to trustworthy
sources that prove that the tree octopus exists?
• What are they?
• What makes these sites trustworthy in your eyes?

10. Back Links
http://home.inreach.com/kumbach/velcro.html
• To check back links go to: http://www.altavista.com/
• In the search box type
link:http://home.inreach.com/kumbach/velcro.html