Week Six
Are we there yet?
Answer the following
3 weeks
+ 3 weeks
Now – The 6th week of term
Hey I know it was a bit silly but it gets boring doing these blogs, so I have to try and keep myself entertained.
Facts
- Anyone with access to a computer can create a web page
- There are laws about what can be put on a web page, but anything can be uploaded onto the www.
- Not all web page's are kept up to date
- Not all websites are authentic and accurate
When evaluating websites you need to consider
Authority- Is there an author? Is this author qualified to write this information? Who is the publisher? Are they a real company?
Objectivity- Is this page designed to sway your opinion? Is it bias? Are there unnecessary advertisements?
Currency- Is the page dated? Was it created or updated in the last 5 years? Are there any expired links?
Coverage- What topics are covered? Does this information back up your previous knowledge? How in depth is the information?
(These questions are based on the Slides from week 6.)
There are many questions you need to ask before using any information off the www. These questions will help to determine whether the site is authentic. Little clues on the website may point out the + / - on the site. For example; if a URL has a ~ or % or even the word users or members, will indicate an unauthentic website. These sites may have interesting views and they could be used as a starting point of your investigation. Using keywords or opinions from here could then be used to research further and find accurate information to support this.
- Is it to inform with facts and data?
- Explain or persuade?
- Sell?
This will help you to determine its authenticity.
http://www.ithaca.edu/library/training/think1.html
http://www.taftcollege.edu/newTC/Academic/INCO48/sec6-4.htm
http://lib.nmsu.edu/instruction/evalcrit.html
All these sites mainly say the same information about authenticating websites, just in different words. I like that there is interesting pictures and even a quiz, if you can call it that. They all stick to the same guide lines, just different questions.
§ On the World Wide Web it is becoming harder to find the exact information you are looking for, and it is no longer all free. “Not everything is on the Web” (Henderson
§ When reading through websites look for uncertainty, persuasive language, and bias. “Accuracy is not easy to confirm. Information on a site cannot be evaluated unless you compare it to other sources. As with any research, you must test one source against another. Unfortunately, sometimes facts can be misleading” (Henderson
§ Question all sources on the www. Have you googled them? Googling their name may bring other articles or pages they have written. This will show more of their qualifications, education or other false sites.
§ “Try to identify the reason the Web page was created in the first place. Determine if the main purpose is to inform, to persuade, or to sell you something. Advertising and opinion can both be disguised. If you know the motive behind the page's creation, you can better judge its content. And here is an important, if difficult, question to ask: What is not being said?” (Henderson
§ Accuracy is usually determined by spelling, grammar, punctuation and structure. A good site will demonstrate these things correctly. What language is being used? Does it look like a teenager has written it? A doctor will use medical words which may not be understood by a normal person but other medical practitioners will understand. You always need to check your facts to see if they are accurate.
§ The web holds many sources of information; journals, websites, books, music, documentaries and pictures. Why was this site made?
§ “Anyone can make a website” (Beck, 1997). Be aware of the difference between opinions and facts.
Exercise Evaluating
http://www.ithaca.edu/library/training/think1.html
- Accuracy- there was a couple minor spelling and grammar mistakes, .e.g.
Needs a capital.
Wrong spelling, but could be American spelling.
2. Authorship- no author, only publisher but is not an authorized publisher.
3. Purpose- I believe they are trying to inform with quotes.
4. Detail and Design- they have used old pictures of the people who they are quoting. And they have used pictures for a dramatic effect, e.g. guns
5. Overall Worth- This page does not give me enough information; I could use this as a start or maybe for an opinion, but not for actual facts. Personally I would not use this web page, as in Henderson
Second Page- http://us.history.wisc.edu/hist102/lectures/lecture27.html
1. Accuracy- this site consists of no spelling mistakes, it is written with formal language and is set up in a report structure.
- Authorship- Stanley K. Schultz, Professor of History. I searched on Google for this author and he is a Professor from
- Purpose- Inform the public, with facts and examples. Mr. Schultz is trying to inform why these historians acted this way to dramatically change the future and now those actions have made a significance difference to our lives.
- Detail and design- It is set up like a report. It has detailed facts which have been researched carefully.
- Overall worth- you could use this website as a authentic source, it is full of facts, quotes, and useful key words. You could begin here or just use this as general information ion any assignment.
I did learn a lot about the information on the www this week, Did you?
Well that’s it for this week
References
Henderson, J. R. (1994). ICYouSee: T is for Thinking. Ithaca College Library. Retrieved May 10, 2008, from
http://www.ithaca.edu/library/training/think1.html
Beck, S. E. (1997). The Good, The Bad & The Ugly: or, Why It’s a Good Idea to Evaluate Web Sources. Retrieved May 10, 2008, from
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