Research Help

Hoax? Scholarly Research? Personal Opinion?
You Decide!

How critical an observer are you? Learn how to evaluate information sources by doing the following exercise.

Pick 2 Web sites from your assigned group. You will have ten minutes to examine them for evidence related to the groups's topic:

• Group 1: Authority and Accuracy
• Group 2: Advocacy and Objectivity
• Group 3: Currency and Coverage

After 10 minutes, we will ask you to tell the class about your evidence.

The main questions to keep in mind are:

• Would you use this Web site for a research paper? Why or why not?

Group 1: Authority and Accuracy

Pick any two sites from the list below. What evidence can you find to determine the basis for claims made on these pages? How could you tell whether or not the information provided is accurate?

Dihydrogen Monoxide in the Dairy Industry
Feline Reactions to Bearded Men
Mankato, Minnesota Home Page
Medline PLUS
The True but Little Known Facts about Women and Aids, with Documentation

Group 2: Advocacy and Objectivity

Pick any two sites from the list below. What evidence can you find to determine whether or not these sites are favoring a particular point of view or are taking an objective approach?

Ladies Against Women
Families Against Internet Censorship
EarthSave International
Martin Luther King, Jr.: A Historical Examination
The King Center Martin Luther King, Jr.

Group 3: Currency and Coverage

Pick any two sites from the list below. What evidence can you find to determine how up to date these pages are and whether or not they cover their topics as completely as they claim?

Sports Rumble
CNN
Mr. Cranky Rates the Movies
Auto-by-Tel