Isnt everything I read on the Internet true

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Isnt everything I read on the Internet true?

• Evaluating websites and citing sources
• By Angela Stephens
• and Eric Creeger

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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.

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What is the purpose?
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First Step The Tell-Tale URL
The URL address should be your first step in
discovering the purpose and credibility of a
website.
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Deciphering the URL Code
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.
Hypertext Transfer Protocol

• 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.
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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/a
sp/dept_index_all_paging.asp?wdid2021
Check the sites to see if you were right!
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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

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Your turn

• Find as much info as you can
• about the author of this site
• http//www.martinlutherking.org/

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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_sea
rch?hlen
Type the site in question in the box that looks
like this.
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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.
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I found a good site. Now what?

• Read for meaningful information
• Take notes
• Use your own words
• Dont plagiarize (steal) information!
• Use quotes
• Properly cite the source of information
• (no, the web address is not enough.)

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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//citationma
chine.net/
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Sources for further discussion

• www.turnitin.com (all teachers can create an
  account and have access)
• http//apse.dallasnews.com/oct2000/3-5sheppard.htm
  l
• http//www.educationworld.com/a_curr/TM/curr390_gu
  ide.shtml
• http//www.plagiarism.org/plagiarism_stats.html