We live in an information age where it's very easy to publish on the Internet. The average person can write their own blog and add to Wikipedia. Anything can be written on the Internet and easily published for everyone to view. As a result, it is up to the consumer to figure out fact from fiction.

In this assignment you will utilize the 4 criteria for evaluating information: Accuracy, Authority, Objectivity, and Currency.

Is the author of the website given? Is the author qualified to write this

information? Does the site document the sources

used? Who is the publisher? Unravel the URL if

you can. (see slide 4) Does the website have a security

certificate? (see slide 5)

How to unravel the URL:

URL stands for "Uniform Resource Locator" and is the address of the page you are accessing. It can be very useful to delete part of the right hand side of the URL to see where the new, shorter URL takes you. By doing this you can get clues as to your location within the site and the structure of the site.

By deleting URLs from the right hand side to the single

slash marks (/) you will move up the directory tree and see how the file is embedded in the site. This can be especially useful when you are looking at search engine results, which often take you deep within web sites rather than to the home pages.

EXAMPLE- http://www.blueskyschool.org/content/category (Delete

back to .org) http://www.blueskyschool.org (Original site)

How to find the security certificate: Some malicious individuals use phishing scams to set up

convincing spoofs of legitimate Web sites. They then try to trick you into visiting these Web sites and disclosing personal information, such your credit card number. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to help protect yourself from these and other types of attacks.

Always verify the security certificate issued to a site before submitting any personal information. Before you submit any personal information, ensure that

you are indeed on the Web site you intend to be on. If a Web site doesn't have a security certificate, never give out personal information.

How does the information compare with what you all ready know?

Is the information accurate? How do you know?

Is the information verifiable? What does your common sense tell you about

this site? Does your website have a disclaimer? (see

page 7) Are the pictures real or fake? Have they been

altered in any way?

Search for a disclaimer: A disclaimer is a statement made to free oneself

from responsibility for the contents of the web site. If a site has a disclaimer, some or all of the information may not be accurate.

On the home page of your web site, scroll down to the bottom. Click on disclaimer. Read what the disclaimer says.

WARNING- Not all sites have a disclaimer.

Is there advertising anywhere on the website?

Is the author of the site biased? What opinions are expressed by the author?

To what extent is the information trying to sway your opinion?

Whose point of view/perspective is given?

Is the site up to date? Was it created, published, or edited in the past 2 years?

Check the links. Are the links expired or current?