1. Analyzing online search results
how to decide which results will be best

2. Your results should look something like this
Your results should look something like this. Before you even open a hit there are a few things you can do to decide if a site is even worth your time.

3. 1 2 3
Read the webpage title
Read the short description of the site
Analyze the web address
If after reading the webpage title and short description of the site the entry appears to meet your requirements, its time to move onto the web address.

4. Parts of a URL http://www.robertsmslibrary.weebly.com/great-books.html
- hypertext transfer protocol: -
computer language
www = “world wide web”
.robertsmslibrary.weebly – domain name/host name
.com – domain level
tells where site is housed/type of site
/great-books = file name
sub page/folder within a website
.html – hypertext markup language
computer language/the language documents are formatted in

5. Its all in a name (domain that is)
Some domains are better sources than others:
.gov = US Government
.mil = US Military
.edu = US Education (usually college level)
.k-12 = US Education grades K-12
.net = computer network
.org = general noncommercial organization
.com = commercial
.int = international

6. Finding Quality Websites
There’s more to just reading for content!!

7. Let the Buyer (User) Beware
Print sources have authors, editors, & publishers verify information.
There are no internet police doing the same thing.

8. The better the information = the better the grades
The user must decide the quality of the information

9. What to look for… Author Accuracy Information free of prejudice?
Information current?
Suitability
Objectivity

10. Author Who is the author? Is he/she an expert on the subject?
Is there contact information on the site?

11. Accuracy
Can the information be verified in a print source preferably an encyclopedia?
Is the information relevant to your topic?
Does the source indicate where the information was found (i.e. – citations)?
Are there mistakes in spelling or grammar?

12. Information free of prejudice?
What is on the website: fact, opinion or both?
Is the author/website attempting to persuade you to a certain point of view?
Is the author/website attempting to persuade you to purchase a product?

13. Information Current? When was the website created and last updated?
Are any of the links broken?
How does the information sound? New? Old?

14. Suitability
Does the website contain information that supports your thesis (research statement)?
Does the website present its information in understandable language?

15. Objectivity Is there any prejudice on the site?
What is the domain? Is it sponsored by an organization or company? If so what is their purpose?
Is there advertising on the site?
Are there links on the site? Where do they take readers to?

16. Citations
Alexander, Janet E., and Marsha Ann. Tate. Web Wisdom: How to Evaluate and Create Information Quality on the Web. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Print.
"Internet Domain Name - Technical Definition." Internet Domain Name. Love To Know, Corp, Web. 03 Jan <
Kotsch, Mrs. "Searching the Internet." Lecture. 3 Jan  Searching the Internet. Web. 03 Jan <
"Parts of a URL." HTML Tutorial for Beginners. Basic HTML Information and Tutorials for Beginners, 14 Aug Web. 03 Jan <
Winningham, Marley., J (2009). “Location and Access: Evaluation Sources Early and Often.” Big6 eNewsletter, 10.1,1.