WEEK 9

Week 9
Part 1
This week we were asked to look at 2 websites and record some strategies that should be used when accessing websites...

You need to ask questions when looking at sites to see if the site is really going to help you...
Ask the following questions:
Make sure you are in the right place.
Does this site address the topic you are researching? Was the page worth visiting?

When in doubt, doubt.
Do you have good reason to believe that the information on the site is accurate? Do authors provide any supportive evidence for their conclusions?

Consider the source.
Who are the authors of the Web page? What gives them their authority or expertise to write? Who is responsible for the site? Is this a commercial, governmental, personal, or academic Web site?

Know what's happening.
What is the purpose of the site? Is the main purpose to inform, to persuade, or to sell you something? Do you understand what is being said? What do you think has not been said that should be addressed?

Look at details.
Is the site well organized? Are there misspelled words or examples of poor grammar? Do the links work? Do they send you beyond the site to other reliable sources of information? Does the site offer anything unique or does it tell you little more than you could find in an encyclopedia? Are the graphics on the page clear and helpful or distracting and confusing? What opinions do others have about the Web page?

Distinguish Web pages from pages found on the Web.
Do you think this page was designed for the Web, or do you think it was originally something else? If it was originally something else, what something else was it?




Part 2

We were asked to evaluate two of the websites given to us on http://www.ithaca.edu/library/training/think60.html

The first website I chose was “The Psychedelic 60’s” http://www.lib.virginia.edu/small/exhibits/sixties/index.html


• There are dates on this site to notify the date the website was created and last updated
• The authors and creators are acknowledged and the site is copyrighted
• There are no links to give any information about the author or sponsor.
• There is no information regarding the credentials or qualifications of the author, as this site was created by a university.
• The purpose of this site is to educate regarding the 1960’s and the activities and daily life of people during that time.
• The site is set out really appropriately. With bright colours and lots of pictures. There is also a great deal of information. However, the authors of these articles are not acknowledged and while there is sometimes references made regarding the sources, a majority of the articles do not have references.
• Overall, this site seems rather genuine when reading the articles. However due to the fact that references are not constant throughout the site, it is hard to tell whether the information on this site is accurate or not.



The next website I chose was “The Almost Great Society: the 1960’s”
http://us.history.wisc.edu/hist102/lectures/lecture27.html

Instantly I can tell that this site is rather genuine..
• There is a date to notify when the site was created
• The author’s are university lecturers and professors; however I cannot see any links to give information regarding their credentials or qualifications.
• The purpose of this site (as it is a copy of a lecture for university students) is to educate regarding the 1960’s. As the previous site was more regarding the social aspects, this site relates to the political aspects of the 1960’s.
• This site is set out in a more formal manner. There are some pictures to indicate the important figures during the 1960’s but the majority of this site is textual information. There is a great usage of quotes and themes during the time which appear to be very relevant. The site is set out in an easy to understand format with dot points and headings all throughout.
• References are constantly made regarding the information found and used.
• Overall, this site is very genuine from what I have gathered. Because it apparently was written by university professors there should not be much doubt. However the fact that information regarding the professors is not given, the information may still be unreliable.