Transcript Isn`t everything I read on the Internet true?

Isn’t everything I read on the
Internet true?
•Evaluating websites and citing
sources
By Angela Stephens
and Eric Creeger
Why do I need to evaluate web
sources?
• Anyone can create and publish a website.
• Unlike most print materials, Internet
sources do not have to be professionally
accepted and edited to be published.
• The Internet gives you access to almost
unlimited information, so you need to know
how to evaluate sites to choose reputable
sources of information.
What is the purpose?
Present Information
Entertain
Sell
Advocate Ideas
First Step – The “Tell-Tale” URL
The URL address should be your
first step in discovering the purpose
and credibility of a website.
Deciphering the “URL Code”
“Hypertext
Transfer
Protocol”
Name of the
server; network
administrators
can name the
server anything…
The tilde (~) is used to
indicate the beginning
of a personal directory
These move us
through the various
directories of the
web site.
http://pubweb.acns.nwu.edu/~abutz/di/intro.html
Refers to a public
web server.
Typically, this
means that it is for
personal posting.
Northwestern University
owns the domain “nwu.edu”
“.edu” means a school…
“intro.html” refers
to the specific
web page.
Your turn…
What do you think is the purpose of the following sites?
http://www.healthsciences.purdue.edu/
http://www.fbi.gov/fbihistory.htm
http://www.gap.com/asp/dept_index_all_paging.asp?wdid=2021
Check the sites to see if you were right!
Step Two – Who is the author?
• “Google” the author at www.google.com
• Contact the webmaster link
• Look to see to whom the domain name is
registered http://premiere.register.com/whois_lookup.cgi
Your turn…
Find as much info as you can
about the author of this site:
http://www.martinlutherking.org/
Step Three – Investigating the links
Use the Page-Specific Search from Google
to discover other web pages that link to the
site in question.
http://www.google.com/advanced_search?hl=en
Type the site in question in the
box that looks like this.
Something else to consider
Many search engines use some
form of paid placement. In other words,
companies pay to show up at the top of
the list. So as you are searching,
keep in mind that the first
site listed may not necessarily
include the best information.
I found a good site. Now what?
•Read for meaningful information
•Take notes
•Use your own words
•Don’t plagiarize (steal) information!
•Use quotes
•Properly cite the source of information
(no, the web address is not enough.)
So, what is proper citation?
Most teachers will require you to use
APA or MLA style to cite sources.
The following site does it all for
you! Simply enter the requested
information and it is put in the
correct APA or MLA format.
http://citationmachine.net/
Sources for further discussion
• www.turnitin.com (all teachers can create
an account and have access)
• http://apse.dallasnews.com/oct2000/35sheppard.html
• http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/TM/
curr390_guide.shtml
• http://www.plagiarism.org/plagiarism_stats.
html