1. “Who’s the more foolish: The fool or the fool who follows him?” – Obi-Wan Kenobi – Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) Evaluating Web Sources

2. Q: What makes a reliable Website? A: The degree to which a Website provides direct access to information without distractions.

3. 5 Criteria for Evaluating Web pages 1. Accuracy 2. Authority 3. Objectivity 4. Currency 5. Coverage

4. ACCURACY Is the information reliable and error- free? Is the information reliable and error- free? Is there an editor or someone who verifies/checks the information? Is there an editor or someone who verifies/checks the information?

5. AUTHORITY Is there an author or sponsor? Is there an author or sponsor? –Are they qualified? –Is there a link to the author or sponsor? Look at the URL domain to see what it can tell you about the Website. Look at the URL domain to see what it can tell you about the Website. –(.com.edu.gov.net)

6. OBJECTIVITY Bias…is the page designed to sway your opinion about a topic? Bias…is the page designed to sway your opinion about a topic? Are there a lot of advertisements on the page? Are there a lot of advertisements on the page?

7. CURRENCY What was the last update on the Website? What was the last update on the Website? Is the information outdated? Is the information outdated? Are there dead links (links that no longer exist)? Are there dead links (links that no longer exist)?

8. COVERAGE What topics are covered? What topics are covered? –Sometimes information is “just for fun,” or a hoax, or someone’s personal expression How in-depth is the material? How in-depth is the material? –Can you get enough information to answer your questions about the topic? –The page may or may not include links to other web pages for more information –Does the page include the author’s list of sources he or she used?

9. Works Cited Beck, Susan E. “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.” 2009. New Mexico State University Library. 12 Feb. 2009 New Mexico State University Library. 12 Feb. 2009.. “Guinness, Alec.” IMDB. 12 Feb. 2009. Kapoun, Jim. “Teaching Undergrads WEB evaluation: A Guide for Library Instruction.” C&RL News Guide for Library Instruction.” C&RL News July/August 1998: 522-523. July/August 1998: 522-523. Stapleton, Paul. “Evaluating web-sources: Internet Literacy and L2 Academic Writing.” ELT Journal: English and L2 Academic Writing.” ELT Journal: English Language Teachers Journal. April 2005: 135-143. Language Teachers Journal. April 2005: 135-143.

10. The World's Worst Website The World's Worst Website Let’s critique this website based on: Accuracy -is the information reliable? Accuracy -is the information reliable? Authority -who’s the author or sponsor? Authority -who’s the author or sponsor? Objectivity -are there a lot of advertisements? Objectivity -are there a lot of advertisements? Currency -is the information outdated? Currency -is the information outdated? Coverage -can you get enough information to answer your questions about the topic? Coverage -can you get enough information to answer your questions about the topic?