Using the Internet as a Using the Internet as a Research ToolResearch Tool

Group WorkGroup Work

Why is it important to Why is it important to evaluateevaluate web web sources?sources?

How do you know if a website is a How do you know if a website is a creditable source?creditable source?

What are search engines? Identify three What are search engines? Identify three search engines?search engines?

Research and the InternetResearch and the Internet

The Internet can be a The Internet can be a great tool for research, great tool for research, but finding quality web but finding quality web materials and using them materials and using them to your advantage in your to your advantage in your writing can be writing can be challenging.challenging.

Why do we need to evaluate web Why do we need to evaluate web sources?sources?

Virtually any person can Virtually any person can publish almost anything publish almost anything on the Internet.on the Internet.

Unlike most print Unlike most print sources, web sources do sources, web sources do not have to be not have to be professionally accepted professionally accepted and edited to be and edited to be published.published.

Types of web pagesTypes of web pages

Informative pagesInformative pagesPersonal web pagesPersonal web pagesPolitical/interest group pagesPolitical/interest group pagesMarketing-oriented or “infomercial” pagesMarketing-oriented or “infomercial” pagesEntertainment pagesEntertainment pages

What is a search engine?What is a search engine?

A search engine is an A search engine is an Internet tool that locates Internet tool that locates web pages and sorts web pages and sorts them according to them according to specified keywords.specified keywords.

Use search engines Use search engines to your advantageto your advantage

Search engines can help Search engines can help you to identify sources you to identify sources that will provide serious that will provide serious information, products or information, products or services, or services, or entertainment. entertainment.

Pick the right search Pick the right search engine for your research engine for your research needsneeds

Refine your search Refine your search whenever possible.whenever possible.

Identify the websiteIdentify the website

Assess the authorship, Assess the authorship, content, and purpose of content, and purpose of the web site.the web site.

This is important becauseThis is important because many web sources are not many web sources are not

checked for accuracy.checked for accuracy. some personal sites are some personal sites are

used to express individual used to express individual opinions about issues, but opinions about issues, but not necessarily the facts.not necessarily the facts.

Identify the websiteIdentify the website

Sometimes the actual Sometimes the actual purpose of the website purpose of the website may not be clearly may not be clearly articulated.articulated.

Can be difficult to Can be difficult to separate advertising from separate advertising from accurate information.accurate information.

Some marketing sites will Some marketing sites will offer misleading offer misleading information in attempts to information in attempts to sell their productssell their products

Identify the websiteIdentify the website

Whenever possible, Whenever possible, try to locate the home try to locate the home page.page.

You can often do this You can often do this by eliminating some by eliminating some information from the information from the end of the URL.end of the URL. .org.org .gov.gov .com.com .net.net .edu.edu .us.us .au.au .uk.uk

Questions to askQuestions to ask

Who is the creator of Who is the creator of the site?the site?

What is the purpose of What is the purpose of the site?the site?

Who is the audience Who is the audience of this site?of this site?

Can you purchase Can you purchase products at this site?products at this site?

Is the site affiliated Is the site affiliated with a business or with a business or university?university?

Does the site offer Does the site offer idiosyncratic idiosyncratic information about a information about a particular person or particular person or group?group?

Examine for credibilityExamine for credibility Credibility may be Credibility may be

compromised by compromised by purposeful misinformation purposeful misinformation or by unintentional or by unintentional neglect.neglect.

Locating the name of the Locating the name of the site’s creator may be site’s creator may be challenging. challenging.

Credentials may be Credentials may be missing even if the missing even if the author’s name is author’s name is provided.provided.

Questions to askQuestions to ask Who is the author of the site?Who is the author of the site? What is the authority or expertise of the individual or group?What is the authority or expertise of the individual or group? What else comes up when you type the author’s name into a search What else comes up when you type the author’s name into a search

engine?engine? Does the source have a political or business agenda?Does the source have a political or business agenda? Is the site sponsored by a political or business group? If so, what Is the site sponsored by a political or business group? If so, what

can you find out about that group?can you find out about that group? Does the site provide a list of sources or a Works Cited page?Does the site provide a list of sources or a Works Cited page? Can you locate any of the source material? How reliable is this Can you locate any of the source material? How reliable is this

material?material? Are there links to other credible sites with additional information?Are there links to other credible sites with additional information? Does the site provide a link for emailing the author or webmaster?Does the site provide a link for emailing the author or webmaster?