1. EVALUATING INTERNET SOURCES: THE RADAR APPROACH Prof. Kobialka UPR – Mayaguez (Adapted from Jane Mandalios - American College of Greece)

2. Approaching internet sources Because webpages can be created by anyone with a computer, it is important to carefully evaluate the website and its information before using it in your essays. The RADAR Approach is not a yes/no system, but a “heads-up” that you should be aware of if a webpage doesn’t meet one or several of the criteria

3. R - Relevant Is the website relevant to your topic? Does the page actually discuss your topic, or something else that happens to have the same name? Experiment: Imagine you are writing a research paper about Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. Which page is relevant to your topic? http://www.mayaguez.pr/index.php?option=com_content&view=arti cle&id=674&Itemid=334 http://www.mayaguez.pr/index.php?option=com_content&view=arti cle&id=674&Itemid=334 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayaguez_incident

4. A - Authoritative Is this webpage from an authority you can trust? Does it list an author or sources? What is the url? Consider again our research paper on Mayaguez. Which of these two sites do you think is more authoritative? http://www.mayaguezsabeamango.com/index.php?option=com_co ntent&view=article&id=119&Itemid=75 http://www.mayaguezsabeamango.com/index.php?option=com_co ntent&view=article&id=119&Itemid=75 http://wikitravel.org/en/Mayaguez

5. D - Date When was the website made? If you are researching a current topic, such as the Civil War in Syria, then you will want websites that contain recent information. However, if you are researching an older topic, such as the Roman Empire, then the date may not be important. Consider two articles about Oscar Pistorius Nancy Gibbs “Cool Runnings” http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1704675,00.html http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1704675,00.html http://www.biography.com/people/oscar-pistorius-20910935

6. A - Appearance Does the website look well-made? A well-made website is a good indication that someone has put a lot of time and effort into the page. But remember looks can sometimes be deceiving. Consider again our research paper on Mayaguez. Which one looks like more time and effort has been put in? http://home.coqui.net/xano/mayaguez.htm http://www.mayaguezsabeamango.com/index.php?option=com_co ntent&view=article&id=119&Itemid=75 http://www.mayaguezsabeamango.com/index.php?option=com_co ntent&view=article&id=119&Itemid=75

7. R - Reason What is the reason for making this site? Is it propaganda, is there bias, is it commercial, is it satire? Ideally, we want to find website that have been made for the spreading of objective knowledge Consider the following again for Mayaguez http://www.mayaguezsabeamango.com/index.php?option=com_co ntent&view=article&id=119&Itemid=75 http://www.mayaguezsabeamango.com/index.php?option=com_co ntent&view=article&id=119&Itemid=75 http://welcome.topuertorico.org/city/mayag.shtml http://www.tramz.com/pr/my.html

8. Conclusion Relevant Authoritative Date Appearance Reason The RADAR Approach is meant as a guide If a website raises issue with your radar, then be extra careful about using information from that website.