Analyzing a Website for Research

CARS Checklist (from Evaluating Internet Research Sources by

Robert Harris       (CARS = Credibility, Accuracy, Reasonableness, Support)

*Credibility	·  Is an author listed? What are the author's credentials? Can the author be reached for questions or comments? ·  Is there evidence of positive peer evaluation? ·  Has the author taken care to check for misspelling, poor grammar, etc.?
*Accuracy	·  Is the date of the site current? ·  Is the information complete and not too vague? ·  Does the author acknowledge all views?
*Reasonableness	·  Is the author fair and objective? ·  Is the author concerned with the truth?
*Support	·  Does the author provide support for the information? ·  Are the sources listed? ·  Are there other resources with similar information?
The following may also be considered when evaluating websites.
Design & Technology	·  Are the pictures relevant and clear? ·  Are the pages easy to maneuver? ·  Have the colors been chosen well? ·  Do the links work? ·  Does the page load relatively quickly?

Which website is fake and which is real?  
Use the CARS checklist to evaluate the websites.
Write your answers on a Microsoft Word document and print out at library printer.
Hand in your answer sheet to me when you are finished.
Be prepared to defend your choice.


http://www.buydehydratedwater.com/

http://www.exploratorium.edu/

http://www.metmuseum.org/explore/museumkids.asp

http://www.ansp.org/

http://www.dhmo.org/

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Page.aspx?pid=1478

http://www.pbs.org/

http://zapatopi.net/treeoctopus/

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/

http://www.returntofreedom.org/kids/wild_horses.html

http://www.rythospital.com/2011/