Web Wise: How to Evaluate a Website

Name _______________________________

Date _______________________________

Web Wise: How to Evaluate a Website

When you search for information on the Internet, some of the websites you find will be very useful. Others won't have the information you need. Some websites will be easy to use and well organized. Others may be difficult to use or just plain confusing. Knowing how to decide if a website meets your needs will help you use the Internet more effectively. When you evaluate a website, you should look at how the information is presented and how useful the information is to you.

Imagine that you want to find out about another famous American, Benjamin Franklin, and learn about some of his inventions. You might start by looking for a good website about Benjamin Franklin. Follow the steps below to visit and then evaluate a website about this man of many talents. As you explore the website, think about how it is organized and whether it has the information you want.

Print out this web page to use as a guide.
Go to Benjamin Franklin: Glimpses of the Man.
Read the paragraphs on the home page. Then click the highlighted word "inventor" in the first paragraph. This hotlink will take you to the page titled "Benjamin Franklin: Inventor."
Read about some of Franklin's inventions. Then click "Back to Glimpses" at the bottom of the page to return to "Benjamin Franklin: Glimpses of the Man."
Click the highlighted words "resource materials" in the last paragraph. This hotlink will take you to a list of web pages and books to which you can refer for more information.

Think about the Benjamin Franklin website you just visited as you read the questions below. Then circle your answer to each question.

How the Website Works

Does the home page include an outline of the contents of the website? Yes   No

If you explore several pages, is there an easy way to get back to the home page? Yes   No

Does the website link to other sites with more information? Yes   No

How Useful the Website Is

Does the website have the information you are looking for? Yes   No

Is the information stated clearly? Yes   No

Is there information that you know or think is false? Yes   No

Does the website have pictures or photographs that help you understand the information? Yes   No

On the lines below, write a few sentences telling what you think of this website. Explain why. Here are some questions you may want to consider:

Did you find the information you wanted at this website?
Would you recommend the website to a friend?

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Return to Web Wise: How to Evaluate a Website by clicking the Close button on Benjamin Franklin website.

Now go to Voices to Remember: Writing About an Important Person. In this activity, you will work with family members to choose and write about someone whose voice you think will still be heard a hundred years from now.