1 Internet Detective Searching for Clues Evaluating Web Sites C. Johnson

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Internet Detective

Searching for Clues Evaluating Web Sites

C. Johnson

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Evaluating Web Sites

All information is not created equal!

Facts: Anyone can be an author on the Internet

whether an amateur or an expert. Information can be true, false or change. Web sites can be removed without warning.

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A web site suitable for research is

AccurateFacts are correct!

AuthoritativeWritten by an expert

ObjectiveBased on facts NOT opinion

CurrentUp-to-date

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Be an Internet Detective Ask questions and look for clues. Weigh the evidence to make a judgment.

To evaluate a web site you must ask Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?

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WHO? Facts Anyone can publish a web site about any topic. Web sites are created by

businesses schools organizations individuals

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WHO? Think Would you trust a web site created about

fixing cars by the classmate sitting next to you?

wrestling techniques by your librarian?

how to find information in our library by your librarian?

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WHO? Ask Is the author identified? Is the author an expert on the topic? How can you find out more about the author? Can you contact the author from the site? Is the author part of an organization you know? Is the site sponsored by a government, organization, school, or company? Did you get to the site by from a link you trust?

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WHAT? Facts

Web sites have a variety of purposes: To inform To sell To persuade To communicate To entertain To misinform

Urban Legends Hoax Hate sites

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WHAT? Think

A web site you use for one purpose may not work for another.

Purchase music by The Beatles

Report on the history of The Beatles

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WHAT? Ask Is the purpose of the site stated? Is the site trying to sell, inform, or persuade? Does there appear to be another purpose? Is the information presented with a minimum of bias? Is there in depth information or is it limited? Do links support the content? Does the content have informational value? Is the same information available in other sources? Who is the target audience?

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WHEN? Facts

There is no one organization or person who removes old web sites or outdated information.

The organization or person creating the web site must do this. (They don’t always remember or take the time to do this!)

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WHEN? Think Is a recent update important if you want to know

the name of president of the United States? the title of Taylor Swift’s latest album? George Washington’s birthday?

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WHEN? Ask

When was it created?

When was it last updated?

Is the information current?

Does a current date matter?

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WHERE? Facts

Web sites can be evaluated by looking at the URL.

A URL (Universal Resource Locator) is the address you type to go to a web site

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WHERE? Think

Domains make up the URL

edu or ac -- educational institution

com or net -- commercial organization

org -- nonprofit organizations

gov -- government agency

mil -- military

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WHERE? Ask

What is the site's address/URL?

Is the server at a school? A business? A governmental agency?

Is this a personal page with a "~" or ".name" in the URL?

Can I find more about the sponsor?

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WHY? Fact

You will have different reasons for using information:

School report

Buying something

Fun

Communicating

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WHY? Think

A web site you use for one purpose may not work for another:

You want to see a movie tonight;

You want to read a review of a movie;

You want to know if a movie won any awards;

You want to tell your friends about a movie you loved!

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WHY? Ask

Why is this information useful for my purpose?

Why should I use this information?

Why is this page better than another?

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HOW? Facts

Appearance of a site can tell you about its content

Some web sites are designed better than others

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HOW? Think

Spelling errors

Too much to look at

Broken links

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HOW? ask Is the page easy to understand and use? Is the page well organized or does it look too busy? Do all of the links work? Is the page free from a lot of advertising? Is the content accurate? Are there spelling or grammar errors?

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Web sites do not have a title or verso page. Look for clues in the The header The side bar The body The foot

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Basic web page layout The header

home page link contact author sponsor

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Basic web page layout

The side bar home page contact

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The body content purpose audience

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The foot contact author date link to home page

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Click on one of these links to find clues.

http://www.jellogallery.org

http://www.dhmo.org

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/

http://www.biography.com/

http://www.loc.gov/index.html

http://www.whitehouse.gov/

http://www.pigeonpresents.com/

http://www.descy.50megs.com/Emankato/mankato.html

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Works Cited

Schrock, Kathy. 2008. The 5 Ws of Web Site Evaluation. Web. 1 Apr. 2010.

“Searching for Web Sites.” 2002. Using the Web. Houghton Mifflin. Web. 8 Mar. 2009.

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1 Internet Detective Searching for Clues Evaluating Web Sites C. Johnson