Week 6

Week Six
1. Lecture Summary
2. Tutorial Summary
a. List and compare strategies for evaluating information found on websites using the following webpages:
i. ICYouSeeCritical Thinking page: http://www.ithaca.edu/library/training/think.html
ii. INCO 48: http://www.taftcollege.edu/newTC/Academic/INCO48/sec6-4.htm
iii. Good, the Bad and the Ugly: http://lib.nmsu.edu/instruction/eval.html

b. Complete the "Reliving the Sixties: a Web Site Evaluation Assignment" exercise on the ICYouSee website. http://www.ithaca.edu/library/training/think60.html. Include screen shots if need be.


Lecture-

Anyone can put up a web page

Web pages can be about anything

There is no control of who publishes on the world wide web

No control of what they publish on the www

no control of why its published on the www

Strategies for evaluating information on websites:

Accuracy-

• Does it represent the topic well
• Is there a balanced viewpoint or bias

Objectivity

• Is the website changing your personal opinion in any way

Currency

• When is it updated
• When was it last updated
• Is the information relevant to the topic

Authority

• Is the author reliable
• What is the authors background (qualifications)
• Any mistakes such as spelling errors, grammar and punctuation

Coverage

• Coverage is about the information (if it has relevance to your research, if it is basic or detailed and is the language appropriate).
  

A trip back to the sixties-

Accuracy:
This website's information has no supporting texts and no references which shows a lack of authenticity. The text has no spelling mistakes, and is well written (in the articles), however, the text is written in a persuasive way, which means that the information may be written from a viewpoint which shows bias, not from facts.

Purpose:
This websites purpose was not neccessarily for academic reason, but was more for social and entertainment purposes. The website could also have a slight commercial purpose, as the website advertised/promoted quite a large number of books. The website had alot of chat and discussion forums, which indicates that the information is not academic.

Authorship:
This website was a link from another website which was designed for 'hippies' and anti-war enthusiasts. This shows that the content may be bias, therefore, not all the information will be true.

Detail and Design:
The website has a 'hippy' colour scheme, with bright colours and has a reasonably organised layout, with the links and toolbar neat. The website has easy to read font. The website does not have a particlually professional design, with the bright colours and the background.

Overall worth:
The website 'A Trip To The Sixties', is not recomended for academic use, as the website is not for academic purposes, more for entertainment and pursuasive purposes. The content of this website is not factual but is howeve from opinions.


Sixties Project-

Accuracy:
This 'Sixties Project' website's information was [retty accurate, as the site had references, which were correct, and were written in correct format. The website, though, was last updated in 1999, which should have been more recent, the website is based on the sixties, and this may not affect the information.

Purpose:
The purpose of this website seemed academic at first glance. The website said on the homepage that the website was designed for students, which indicates an academic purpose. The text was written in an informative tone, which shows that the information is factual and not bias.

Authorship:
The website was good at providing information on the author, which shows that the author is reliable. The website also had an address of the author and their name on the homepage, which is an major thumbs up as a reliable source.

Detail and design:
This website was reasonably proffesional in the layout and design. The pages were easy to navigate through, and the menu toolbar was organised and worked well.The website had colourful writing on the toolbar, but still looked neat. The text and information was organised so it looked neat but the layout was plain and simple which showed that they didnt go to much trouble making the site.

Overall Worth:
This website, 'Sixties Project', is a reliable website, which is appropriate for academic use. The website has a sufficent amount of reference, and is designed for academic purposes (to inform).