How Do I Evaluate Electronic Information and Why Should I?

Internet SkillsLiving Online Lesson 5

Mrs. Elzey

Lesson Objectives

• Identify reasons for evaluating Internet resources.

• Identify parts of a Web page.• Identify criteria for evaluating

electronic information.• Identify Internet resources.• Cite Internet resources appropriately.

Be aware!!Anyone can publish

information to the Internet, therefore, it is not always

accurate or reliable

Why Evaluate Web Pages?

Viewing a Page

1. Did it take a long time to load?2. Are the graphics on the page related to

the site?3. Are the sections on the page labeled?4. Who wrote the information on this

page?5. How can you communicate with the

author?6. When was the page last updated?7. Are there appropriate links?8. Is it easy to follow links?

Questions to consider

A Web Document

• 3 main elements:– Header: contains links to the

sponsoring institution

– Footer: contains the author or contact person, date of revision

– Body: contains information identifying the intended audience, purpose of the information

Criteria for Evaluating Electronic Information

The 5 W’s

Who???”Authorship

• What expertise does the author have that qualifies him or her to distribute this information?

• Look especially for a name or e-mail address

• Look at domain name to consider appropriateness of the site

What???Content

• Is the purpose of the site stated?• Is the information accurate?• Is the information in-depth?• Does it cover a specific time period?• Are any conclusions offered?

When????Age

• When and how long has it posted?• How often is it updated?• Check links to other sites to determine if

they still exist• Check style of writing and the language

used– Opinionated and subjective information may not

be worthy of your attention– Objective writing is a better resource

• Overall layout– Free of spelling errors– Free of grammar errors

Where???

• Is the information authentic?• Is it unique or has it been copied?

Why???

• Why was the information provided by the source published?

• What are the perspectives, opinions, assumptions, and biases?

• Is anything being sold?• Who is the intended audience?

Citing Internet Resources

Resources Used in Reports

• You must give proper credit to any information you include in your report that is not your original thought.

• This is called “citing” a source• General guidelines can be found in the

MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers or The Chicago Manual of Style.

• Listed in alphabetical order by author’s last name.

Copyright

• The exclusive right, granted by law for a certain number of years, to make and dispose of literary, musical, or artistic work.

• You cannot use information on the Internet as your own. You must give credit to the person who created the work.

• Public domain – information that can be used without citation.

• Fair use – refers to short, cited excerpts, usually as an example

Other Legal and Ethical Issues

• False Information– Anyone can publish– Information not always true– Can be sued for libel and forced to pay compensation for

damages

• Criminals– Gather personal information– Acquire credit– Conduct transactions using false identities– Sexual predators– Threats– Circulating rumors to manipulate stock prices

• Pranks, hoaxes, and unfair use of trial “shareware”

Need help?Use this website to assist with creating a bibliography from on-line resourcesfor a research paper.

owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_mla.html

Agenda Book Pages 99 – 101 for more examples