Evaluating Web Sites

It’s on the web…but is it true? Nowadays, most students rely heavily on the Internet for research papers Nowadays, most students rely heavily on the Internet for research papers Fewer students are using books, journals and magazines Fewer students are using books, journals and magazines This causes a few issues This causes a few issues

Most academic books and journals are put through rigorous examination for accuracy Most academic books and journals are put through rigorous examination for accuracy Generally, most major media outlets place a strong emphasis on fact checking Generally, most major media outlets place a strong emphasis on fact checking There are no such guarantees on the web There are no such guarantees on the web

Some websites are excellent sources of legitimate research information Some websites are excellent sources of legitimate research information Some are clearly published by crazy people Some are clearly published by crazy people With others, it’s more difficult to spot sources of bias, mistakes, or omissions With others, it’s more difficult to spot sources of bias, mistakes, or omissions

Some websites are published by prestigious universities, media outlets, and institutions Some websites are published by prestigious universities, media outlets, and institutions Some are published by lonely people from their own basements Some are published by lonely people from their own basements The two are not equally valid for a research paper The two are not equally valid for a research paper

So… Is it Good? DO NOT… Simply go to Google and use the first three sites you see at the top of the page. DO NOT… Simply go to Google and use the first three sites you see at the top of the page. The fact that a website is atop the list simply means it contains certain keywords The fact that a website is atop the list simply means it contains certain keywords It doesn’t mean it’s an academically sound website It doesn’t mean it’s an academically sound website

Here is a checklist for evaluating websites Here is a checklist for evaluating websites

Five Criteria For Evaluating Web Pages

List of Criteria 1. Accuracy of Web Documents 2. Authority of Web Documents 3. Objectivity of Web Documents 4. Currency of Web Documents 5. Coverage of the Web Documents

Accuracy Questions to ask: Who wrote the page and can you contact him or her? Who wrote the page and can you contact him or her? What is the purpose of the document and why was it produced? What is the purpose of the document and why was it produced? Is this person qualified to write this document? Is this person qualified to write this document?

Accuracy Steps to take: Make sure author provides or a contact address/phone number. Make sure author provides or a contact address/phone number. Know the distinction between author and Webmaster. Know the distinction between author and Webmaster.

Authority Questions to ask: Who published the document and is it separate from the "Webmaster?" Who published the document and is it separate from the "Webmaster?" Check the domain of the document, what institution publishes this document? Check the domain of the document, what institution publishes this document? Does the publisher list his or her qualifications? Does the publisher list his or her qualifications?

Authority Further steps: What credentials are listed for the authors)? What credentials are listed for the authors)? Where is the document published? Check URL domain. Where is the document published? Check URL domain.

Objectivity Questions to ask: What goals/objectives does this page meet? What goals/objectives does this page meet? How detailed is the information? How detailed is the information? What opinions (if any) are expressed by the author? What opinions (if any) are expressed by the author?

Objectivity Determine if page is a mask for advertising or a political group; if so information might be biased. Determine if page is a mask for advertising or a political group; if so information might be biased. View any Web page as you would an infomercial on television. Ask yourself why was this written and for whom? View any Web page as you would an infomercial on television. Ask yourself why was this written and for whom?

Currency Questions to ask: When was it produced? When was it produced? When was it updated? When was it updated? How up-to-date are the links (if any)? How up-to-date are the links (if any)?

Currency How many dead links are on the page? How many dead links are on the page? Are the links current or updated regularly? Are the links current or updated regularly? Is the information on the page outdated? Is the information on the page outdated?

Coverage Questions to ask: Are the links (if any) evaluated and do they complement the documents' theme? Are the links (if any) evaluated and do they complement the documents' theme? Is it all images or a balance of text and images? Is it all images or a balance of text and images? Is the information presented cited correctly? Is the information presented cited correctly?

Task Choose one of the following poets: Langston Hughes Langston Hughes TS Eliot TS Eliot Al Purdy Al Purdy Maya Angelou Maya Angelou Emily Dickinson Emily Dickinson Robert Frost Robert Frost ________ (A poet of your choice) ________ (A poet of your choice)

Use three different search engines to find three different websites about the poet Use three different search engines to find three different websites about the poet Subject the three sites to the checklist Subject the three sites to the checklist Identify which site you think is the best source for a research paper Identify which site you think is the best source for a research paper Explain your choice Explain your choice

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