How do I know if it's any good?

 

Criteria: Questionable examples:
Accuracy

Is the information you are finding correct and valid?
Students need to be able to recognize the difference between a commercial or opinion page and a valid source of source of information. 
Spontaneous Combustion: How To Tell If Your Head's About To Blow Up

Velcro
    

vaprima.org
http://www.ovaprima.org/
Bonsai Kitten
http://www.BonsaiKitten.com/
California's Velcro Crop Under Challenge
http://members.unlimited.net/~kumbach/
velcro.html

Clones-R-Us Homepage
http://www.d-b.net/dti/
Mankato Minn.  Homepage
http://www.lme.mankato.msus.edu
/mankato/mankato.html

True But Little Known Facts 
About Women With AIDS
http://147.129.226.1/library/
research/AIDSFACTS.htm

Feline Reactions to Bearded Men
http://www.improbable.com/
airchives/classical/cat/cat.html

Ladies Against Women (LAW)
http://www.well.com/user/gail/ladies/
Alex Chiu's Eternal Life Device
http://www.alexchiu.com/
Skeptic Tank
http://www.linkline.com/personal/frice/index.htm
The Energy Machine of Joseph Newman
http://home.earthlink.net/~josephnewman/
Worldwide Labs' Melatonin Central
http://www.melatonin.com/
American Smoker's Alliance
http://www.smokers.org/
Halloween
http://www.jeremiahproject.com/halloween.html
National Smokers Alliance
http://www.speakup.org/
(K-) Mart Sucks!
http://www.concentric.net/~rodf/mart.htm
The Useless Pages
http://www.go2net.com/internet/useless/
Fraudulent Site
http://www.mcwhortle.com/

 

Authority (who's responsible for the page)
A site should contain information about the author: where does he/she work;  what are his/her credentials;  and how can the reader  get in touch with him/her for further questions. 

http://www.martinlutherking.org/

Objectivity 
(Is there an agenda,  a position or are they trying to sell you something?)
http://www.melatonin.com/

http://www.smokers.org/

http://www.martinlutherking.org/

Currency 
(Is there a date of last update given?)
Usability  Some sites are more user friendly than others.
  • Some sites have such large files they take a long time to download.
  • Some sites require additional software to use (Adobe, Media Player)
    Federal Tax Forms
    http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/prod/forms_pubs/pubs.html)
    PBS Kids (http://www.pbs.org/kids)
  • Some sites are designed poorly and are difficult to read. 
    http://www.worstoftheweb.com/classic/

 

 

Internet as a Research Tool

Library/Research Center

Return to High School Page

Images from Microsoft Clip Gallery copyright Microsoft
Page is copyright 2001 NLCSD
Site Created  by Ann Hayes
New Lebanon Central School District
PO Box 39
West Lebanon, NY 12195-0039
Phone 518 794-9016FAX 518 766-5574