The document discusses how to identify trustworthy websites for research. It provides questions to consider about the authorship and reliability of websites. Key points emphasized are that anyone can publish online, so websites must be carefully evaluated using criteria like whether the author is an expert, if the site is run by a reputable organization, and if the information can be verified elsewhere. Students are assigned to analyze websites for a science fair project using worksheets to determine suitability.

1. Test Before You Trust!
Identifying High Quality Sites
Source: Common Sense Media Inc. 2011
http://www.commonsensemedia.org

2. Some Questions for You
• Can Anyone be an Author?
• What websites do you use for research?
• How do you know you can trust those sites?
Source: Common Sense Media Inc. 2011
http://www.commonsensemedia.org

3. Key Vocabulary
• Evaluate:
– To carefully examine something to figure out its
value
• Trustworthy:
– Accurate and dependable
• Criteria:
– Standards on which you base a judgment or decision
• Community (on the Web):
– Group of people who are connected through a
website, often working on a common project
• Site Map:
– A list of the webpages on a website
Source: Common Sense Media Inc. 2011
http://www.commonsensemedia.org

4. What Do YOU Think?
• Who might you expect to write a book on an
endangered species in Australia?
– Wildlife biologist
– Zoologist
– Expert on Australian animals
– Someone who has spent time in Australia studying
wildlife
– Aboriginal people who know about the local wildlife
Source: Common Sense Media Inc. 2011
http://www.commonsensemedia.org

5. What Do YOU Think?
• What kinds of people might write an article
about a new health care law just passed by
Congress?
– Health care experts
– Doctors
– Political scientists
– Reporters who cover health care
– Reporters in Washington who write about
Congress
Source: Common Sense Media Inc. 2011
http://www.commonsensemedia.org

6. What Do YOU Think?
• Suppose YOU wrote a book about an endangered
species in Australia?
– Would a book publisher be likely to publish it?
• What if you wrote an article about a new health
care law?
– Could you get a newspaper to print it?
• But, could you post your book or article on the
web?
Source: Common Sense Media Inc. 2011
http://www.commonsensemedia.org

7. Books and Newspapers Versus Web
• Website
– May or may not be published by an expert
– Usually no editor
– “Facts” might be opinions
– Errors may not get fixed
– May deliberately misrepresent
• Book and Newspapers
– Authors who know their subjects
– Editors and fact checkers
Source: Common Sense Media Inc. 2011
http://www.commonsensemedia.org

8. What You Should Know
• The Web is Improving
• Standards are Being Developed
• Don’t assume its not true because its on the
web
• View it with a critical eye!
Source: Common Sense Media Inc. 2011
http://www.commonsensemedia.org

9. How Can YOU Be a Reliable Author?
• Use Trustworthy Sources
• Learn a lot about your topic
• Check your facts carefully
Source: Common Sense Media Inc. 2011
http://www.commonsensemedia.org

10. Testing
• Is the author is an expert? Received awards?
• Is the site run by a respected organization or type of
website (e.g., .gov, .edu)?
• Is source from a well-known newspaper?
• You arrive there from another trusted site
Source: Common Sense Media Inc. 2011
http://www.commonsensemedia.org

11. Review
• Why should you carefully evaluate websites before
using their information in research projects?
• Anyone can publish material of any quality on the Web.
– What questions do you need to ask?
• See handout
Source: Common Sense Media Inc. 2011
http://www.commonsensemedia.org

12. Assignment 3
• Find and save 3 websites that you might be able
to use for your Science Fair Project.
• Complete the worksheets for each of the three
websites
• Due October 19, 2011
Source: Common Sense Media Inc. 2011
http://www.commonsensemedia.org