Which sites should I cite?
How do you know when a site's
content is
accurate and reliable?
Introduction
Students are often required
to use the Internet to find information without any real training on how
to use it effectively. This webquest will take you through some necessary
background information about the Internet; it will also teach you how to
judge a site's accuracy and reliability. When you are collecting
information for a project or paper, it's difficult to know which sites
to cite.
Hopefully this webquest will solve this problem.
Task
Here's
your topic for research: Theseus, a Greek hero. You must read and
evaluate the Theseus sites. Some sites are worthwhile, but some are
not.
The Minotaur
Process
First,
you must learn the basics of Internet searching, including search engines
and domain names.. Read the sites below thoroughly and take notes
as you read. Next, look at the sites that teach you how to evaluate
whether a site is useful. Finally, look at all the sites regarding
Theseus. You must determine which of them are useful and nonuseful
and explain why.
Resources
Basic Internet Searching
List
of Search Engines
WWW
Search Sites
Domain Names
Evaluating Internet Sites
Evaluation
Criteria
Evaluating
Internet Resources
Why
we need to evaluate what we find on the Internet
Criteria
for evaluation of Internet Information Resources
Thinking
Critically about the World Wide Web Resources
Theseus Sites to Evaluate
Site
A
Site
B
Site
C
Site
D
Evaluation
Print a copy of the site
evaluation ,and complete it to demonstrate what you have learned.
Parts A and B will be graded right or wrong. In Part C, you will
be evaluated based on your ability to describe your decision-making process.
Conclusion
When
you use the Internet, remember that the pages published online have no
restrictions. To publish online, one does not have to have credentials,
unlike the author or editor of a published book. Use discretion when
you decide whose pages to trust. Choose the "sites to cite" carefully.
