Controversial Topics/Opposing Viewpoints

 What?

What does the work cover?  Is it relevant to my topic?  Does the work provide general or comprehensive information?  What type of audience was the work written for?  If there is an issue, are both sides presented?

Read the summary if available. Review the full text.  Check for a thesis statement and conclusion.

 When?

When was the work written?  Is it clear when the work was published or when the site was last updated?  Is the information up to date enough for the topic chosen or do you need historical information?

Check for a publication date. Currency is important in fields such as medicine, science and technology. In other fields such as history and literature, older materials may be just as valuable as newer ones.

 Who?

Who is the author or sponsoring organization?  What makes the author an expert in the field written about? What credentials does the author have?  Is there any contact information for the author?

Google the author's name and see if you can retrieve some background information or credentials on the author.

Why?

Why was the work written? Is its purpose to educate, entertain, inform, persuade, sell something, etc.?  Does the site contain advertising? Is the information biased or does it push a specific perspective?

Check to see if the author is affiliated with any organizations. Check for ads on the site. Read the fine print.

How?

Is the site easy to navigate? Are there obvious signs of typos or errors?  Does the author provide references so you can verify factual information?

Check for navigation menus.  Check to see if the links work. Check for references.