Transcript Evaluating a Web Site

Evaluating a Web Site
How do you know
what to believe?
The Problem?
• Anyone can publish ANYTHING they
want online (you can self-publish
online: you don’t need an editor or
a publisher, just some web space).
• Some sites are MEANT to mislead-they have a hidden agenda
Question your Sources
• You must learn to look at web sites
with a critical eye
• Just because you find it online
doesn’t make it true
• Think about the following as you
find resources on the Internet:
Purpose
• The very FIRST thing to do is determine
why the page is there in the first place.
• To inform? Entertain? To sell you
something?
• Is the advertising on the page separate
from the content?
• Follow the links--where is this site
leading you?
• The purpose may not always be obvious.
Author
• Is there an author listed or an “about
us/me” link? If so, read it.
• Do a Google search on the author.
• Go the root of a web site to find out
who pays for the site.
• Is it a personal web page or a
professional web page? How can you
tell the difference?
Personal Web Pages
• Someone’s first & last name
• A site with “users” or “members” in the
address: (ie)
members.aol.com/ortiz/photos.htm
• An academic site with a tilde (~) in the
address: (ie)
columbia.edu/~profmartin/china.html.
Details
• Is the web site current? When was it
last updated? (look for a date)
• Does the page have obvious spelling
errors or false information?
• Is the design professional or do-ityourself?
Search Smarter
• Use Google if you use a search engine!
It’s the best. Google.com
• Put quotes around a name or a phrase
you want to search
• Use the plus sign to add to the search
and get more specific
• Check the Google results page--check for
the search terms in bold, read
summaries--make sure you can use it.
Use Academic Sites
• Use NYPL.org--it’s free with your library
card. Search the library online.
• Go to the Internet Public Library:
www.ipl.org to find materials.
• Search the Library of Congress: loc.gov.
• Think about where you’d look if there
was no Internet & find that source online
(government sites, for example).
Remember…
• Question your source: just because
it’s online, doesn’t mean its true
• Review your search results--make
sure you’ve found what you need
• Search smarter, find results faster
• If you’re in doubt, throw it out