IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENT: Searching and Evaluating Web Pages
Search Engines: Assume you need to write an essay on poverty in a particular country and
need some information and statistics. Search for the following information: statistics
poverty rate Costa Rica (select whatever country you want).
Use the Search Engine’s advanced search option—usually there is a link to it from the
main basic search screen. Also, try to use any sort of Boolean logic (and, or, not,
phrases, etc.) that you see available.
Search Engine Google http://www.google.com :
Write down how you formatted your Search:
How many results did you retrieve? _________________
Do you see any items that look useful on the first screen? ________
Write down the title and url of one of the useful web sites.
Search Engine Exalead: http://exalead.com
Write down how you formatted your Search:
How many results did you retrieve? _________________
Do you see any items that look useful on the first screen? ________
Write down the title and url of one of the useful web sites.
Does the search engine suggest how you might refine your search or give you other
suggestions?
Search Engine Your Choice : ______________________________
(see NoodleTools for a list with descriptions:
www.noodletools.com/debbie/literacies/information/5locate/adviceengine.html
Write down how you formatted your Search:
How many results did you retrieve? _________________
Do you see any items that look useful on the first screen? ________
Write down the title and url of one of the useful web sites.
Are the results of your search in all three search engines the same? ______________
Evaluate a Web Site
1. Review the web page found at: http://globalwarming.org/ and answer the following
questions.
a. Is a personal author identified? If so, who? ________________________________
b.
Is a sponsor identified? If so, who? _____________________________________
c. Who comprises the sponsoring organization and what is its stated purpose or
mission _____________________________________________________________
d. List the web address (URL) for the page where you found your answer to 1.c. above.
_____________________________________________________________________
1. Is there any documentation provided to verify any of the facts included on this web
page? If so, what is it?
______________________________________________________________________
3.What is the purpose of the web page -- to inform, convince, or sell?
___________________________________________________________________
4. Is this a credible web site? Why or Why not???