Web Page Evaluation - This printable worksheet can be used by students when they need to evaluate web sites as resources for school work. In order to understand how I ranked the sites below, you will need to look at the worksheet. (It is viewable in Adobe Acrobat.) NOTE: I wanted to include more on this worksheet, but I think more than two pages would really overwhelm them.

Dihydrogen Monoxide - DHMO Homepage - This web site was designed specifically to appear reputable, so evaluating it will be an interesting exercise. I may find that people who create false sites very carefully may get them by my ranking system. We'll see. In any case, this site is my example of a site that should NOT be used by students for any serious purpose. I'll assume I'm researching toxic chemical pollution in the U.S.

CURRENCY:
Date last updated is displayed and is today. Rank: 3
The section I looked at, Environmental Impact, was last updated in August of 2004. Rank: 3
ACCURACY:
I did not find a list of print resources on the page and could not confirm the information on the page in any print resources. Rank: 1
URL: http://www.dhmo.org/
The page looks reputable in its language and layout. It even has a goal, "to provide an unbiased data clearinghouse and a forum for public discussion."
The bottom of the page has this note: "content veracity not implied." Since I know what veracity means, this is a cue to me that this is not a good resource, but I'd bet my students wouldn't look up the word. Rank: 1
RELEVANCY:
The site is very relevant to my topic of toxic chemical pollution in the U.S.
Rank: 2
EASE: The site has a straightforward layout, few ads, and loads quickly.
Rank: 2
SUPPORT:
DMHO Organization and Tom Way are responsible for this site. I don't know who they are, but a logo is also posted for "The American Environmental Assessment Center." I've never heard of that, but it sounds reputable. I'm unsure. Rank: 2
The site links to reputable sites like the EPA and American Cancer Society.
Using Alexa, I found a list of sites that link to this one. I don't recognize any, and some, like SlashDot, don't seem serious.
Since a site can link to any other site, I guess the American Cancer Society doesn't have control over who links to it. Also, it doesn't go to any specific information, just the main sites. Based on this and those who link to it: Rank: 1

Total Rank: 12 This means the site, according to my original worksheet fell into:
14-8: Use this site but not as a main source. Aim higher.

As such, I have to conclude that, yes, in fact, sites that are trying to pose as serious sites will in fact get past my current ranking system. I'd better change it a bit. (The worksheet linked above is the revised version.)