To decide whether the information on a Web site is useful to you, first consider what you will be doing with the information. Are you writing a research paper? A persuasive essay? A short story?
Once you know that, you can find out whether the site is useful by considering the following questions:
1. What is the Web site’s purpose?
- Is it to inform, to entertain, to persuade, to sell something?
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2. Who is behind the screen?
- Has someone taken responsibility for what is written?
- Is information about the author clearly stated?
- Are there links to detailed information about the author or organization?
- Who links to the site? (Go to Alta Vista and search “link:” and then the site’s URL, as in “link:www.media-awareness.ca .)
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Is the information biased in any way?
- Is there a connection between the author’s viewpoint and the organization he or she represents?
- Is emotion a big part of how the site tries to persuade you?
- Does the author use loaded language (words that get a strong emotional reaction) or make broad statements not supported by evidence?
- Can the information be verified from other sources?
- Does the site offer more than one point of view, or links to other points of view?
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Is the information up-to-date?
- Is it important that information in your topic be up-to-date?
- Does the site show when it was created and last updated?
- Do all the links still work?
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What purpose would you use this information for and why?
Check beside each possible purpose for which you feel this site would be appropriate, and briefly explain why you think so.
A research report ___________________________________________
A news article __________________________________________
A persuasive essay ___________________________________________
An ad campaign ___________________________________________
