Evaluating Internet Sources

What does bias mean?

• Some trying to persuade you or has a strong opinion about things
• It is an argumentative technique used by certain people
• It is factual information not opinion
• People who think differently

Why is locating the author important on a website?

• To be able to contact them if you need to
• You need to make sure the information is credible
• The site won't work if there isn't any author.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.1

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

A website is biased when:

• doesn't tell the whole story

• is trying to convince you to take a side

• it contains opinion instead of fact and is prejudiced and not impartial

• all of the above

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.6

How can you check that a website is trustworthy (shows authority & accuracy)?

• Check the links the website has to other sources

• Check the facts with another website

• Research the author of the website

• All of the above

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.1

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

Evaluating content on the Web is important because...

• Web authors are always less professional
• Web authors are always biased
• Anyone can publish on the Web.  There's no gurantee that what you're reading is reliable.
• Printed information is always more accurate then information found on the Web

How can you verify whether information from a website is accurate?

• send the author an email to ask if the information is reliable

• only trust information with unknown authors

• check how many followers the organization has on social media

• the same facts can be verified from other sources

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.1

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

If an author has credentials that make him/her more reliable, that means

• the author is a good writer

• the author is qualified in relation to the topic

• the author has written a certain number of articles or books

• the author is easy to understand

What would be the BEST way to determine whether a site has a good reputation?

• Ask a teacher if he/she likes the site.

• Google the name of the site to see what other people are saying about it.

• Look for a clear mission statement on the site.

• Send an email to the site asking for credentials.

Sometimes it's hard to tell the intent or the reason why information has been published on the web.  What might distract you from getting the information you need?

• ads or pop-ups
• a mission statement explaining why he/she created the website
• date last updated
• links to additional information

Why does source evaluation matter?

• It will guarantee a good grade in any class

• "fake news" is always obvious to everyone

• Helps you make better decisions and stronger arguments

• Encourages the imagination

Tags

CCSS.L.1.1J

CCSS.L.2.1F

CCSS.L.8.1C

CCSS.L.K.1D