  Cite web sources  Use search engines to search the Internet and locate information.  Determine the relevance of information.  Evaluate the currency, authority and accuracy of resources:  Recognize the publication date as an indicator of information currency  Explain the authority, timeliness, and/or accuracy of information resources. What you will Know & Do:

  What search engines do you use to find information online?  How do you figure out if a website has good information? Share Out

  What is a search engine?  Which search engines do you use?  Choose search engine based on your research needs  For academic research: Academic Search Engines

  Go to:  Identify parts of the website Parts of a Website

  Anyone with a computer and access to the Internet can publish a Web site.  Most Web documents do not have editors, fact-checkers, or other types of reviewers. Remember…

  Many websites are designed to make money on advertising.  The purpose of an online text may be misleading: a website that appears to be factual may actually be persuasive and/or deceptive. Remember…

  C urrency/Timeliness  R elevance  A uthority  A ccuracy  P urpose/Point of View/Objectivity Website Evaluation Criteria

   Examples:

  Date published  Date updated  Is the information current or out-of- date for your topic?  Are the links functional? Currency/Timeliness

  Is this the information you need for your topic?  Consider the type of information needed— primary sources, statistics, history or background information.  Have you looked at a variety of sources before choosing this one? Relevance

  Who is the author? Is contact information given?  Is the author an expert who is qualified to write on this topic? Author ity

  Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source?  Examples:.edu.org.com.gov.net.com  Is the site a “content farm” (includes basic information and lots of advertisements; e.g. Author ity

  Can you verify any of the information in another source?  Does the site have spelling/grammar errors or an unpolished appearance?  Are sources cited? (references) Accuracy

  What is the purpose of the information? Is it to inform, teach, sell, entertain or persuade?  Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?  Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear? Purpose / Point of View

  Is the information fact, opinion or propaganda?  Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional or personal biases?  Is the site a hoax or a parody (joke)? Purpose / Point of View

  Urban Legend – false or exaggerated stories propagated through and other modern communication. (Hint: wording is often the same)  Content Farm – website created to attract search queries, but with little or low-quality content & lots of advertising. Recognize & Avoid:

 Beware: Turklebaum

  Fauxtography – photo or video that has been digitally modified Beware:

   To debunk urban legends & Internet rumors: edays.asp edays.asp  Events & People in history x.php Verifying Information

 Now, it’s your turn…       IndusCiv.htm IndusCiv.htm Practice Evaluating Web Sites

  Choose three of the websites listed below.  Use the evaluation questions and the descriptors in the rubric to evaluate the websites.  Record your notes in the notes page.  Use the rubric to evaluate the website, assigning a score for each criterion, and adding the scores for a total score.  Write a brief summary of your findings. Explain which websites were the best and give evidence for your choices. Be prepared to present your conclusions to your class. Website Evaluation Task

 Website Evaluation…Website Citation The parts of the website used for evaluation are the same ones used to create your citation!

  Author’s last name, first name. “Title of Article.” Title of Website. Publisher or Sponsor, Date published. Web. Date accessed.  Notice the hanging indent, the punctuation, and the italics.  The URL is not required, but including it helps your reader find the website easily. Website Citations

 n-aviatrixes Author. “Title of Article.” Title of website. Sponsor, date created (use n.d. if no date is given). Medium. Date accessed. DeArmond, Megan, Diana Moronta and Laurin Paradise. “Women With Wings: American Aviatrixes.” Digital Public Library of America. Digital Public Library of America, date created (18 April, 2013). Web. 29 March Sample Web Citations

 Now it’s your turn…

  Frazier, Jeff. Web Evaluation Presentation. Rialto HS,  The Purdue OWL. Purdue U Writing Lab, Web. 13 February  Russell, Tony, Allen Brizee, and Elizabeth Angeli. "MLA Formatting and Style Guide." The Purdue OWL. Purdue U Writing Lab, 4 Apr Web. 20 July Credits