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Evaluating Web Sites Tutorial

Introduction

Responsibility

Authority

Purpose

Documentation

Updates

Getting Assistance

Printable Checklist

 

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Purpose

Web sites are created for a reason. Sometimes the authors want to present facts. Sometimes they want to change your opinions or beliefs. Sometimes they want to sell you something. And sometimes their purposes aren’t clear.

Knowing who is responsible for the site will help you figure out the purpose. (See the Responsibility section of this tutorial.)

Once you know who has posted the site, ask yourself questions about their motives:

  • Are they trying to sell you something?
  • Do they have a political agenda?
  • Do they have any reason to distort the facts? Are they biased?
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November 15th, 2004