Searching on the Internet
The Big 6 Method
by Mr. Tedesco
3/6/2011
How can the Big 6 method help me?
• Searching the internet you can have an average of
over a million hits of websites to choose from
after entering your search term.
So the question naturally is:
• How do you find the websites that are the best
without spending lots of time attempting to
figure it out?
• Answer: The Big 6 method
*Note: With
clicking all web addresses in this
powerpoint you will be taken out of the
powerpt & you need to just exit out of that
website to return to this powerpt.
Want to learn about Zombies and
Vampires?
If you were going to research zombies and vampires
would you use the website below?
Caution: Before you respond check out the
Federal Government symbol on its homepage.
http://www.fvza.org/
Would you use this site about Martin
Luther King Jr.?
On this website check out: ‘The poster’ or ‘Truth
about King’
http://martinlutherking.org/
Well what do you think? Would you
use either website for researching?
1. Yes
2. No
3. Maybe
You’re Right!
•
•
•
•
Both of these websites were created to fool
people.
The MLK website is full of bias – to try to unfairly
influence you (in this case to dislike MLK)
The Vampire/Zombie site - Did you look close
enough to notice the fake government symbol?!
Did you purchase their hat? – This website was
created to advertise and to get you to buy their
stuff/junk!
Now that you are on your way keep going to learn
how to increase your knowledge –click here.
Sorry.
•
•
•
•
Both of these websites were created to fool
people.
The MLK website is full of bias – to try to unfairly
influence you (in this case to dislike Martin L. King)
Go back to see for yourself – click here
Look closely - did you notice the fake government
symbol on the vampire website?!
Did you purchase their hat? – This website was
created only to fool you to advertise to you. – Look
again – click here
Never be fooled again!
– Learn how to research! – click here.
Make up your mind.
• Go back and choose- yes or no.
Step 1 – What’s the question?
Ask yourself:
1. What is the final product?
2. When is it due?
3. How much information will you need?
4. What type of information will you need?
Step 1
Then . . . ask yourself:
1. What do you already know about the
topic?
2. What new information do you need?
To do this . . .
Create a KN chart. What you Know. And
What you Need to know.
Your KN chart
1. Draw a line straight down the center of your
paper.
2. Then label one side: Know And the other
Need to Know.
3. As so.
Know
Need to know
Click arrow when finished.
For example: Say you are doing your research on:
1st you
make
list of
what
you
know
‘The Heart’
Know
- Pumps Blood
- It’s the size of
your fist
- Has different
parts or sections
Need to Know
‘The Heart’
Know
- Pumps Blood
Need to Know
Then fill
in what
you
Need to
know
- How does it work?
- It’s the size of
your fist
- Has different sections.
-How do the sections
work together?
Now that have defined your topic and
know what you already know and need to
know:
Step 2 –Plan your research
Where will you search?:
A good place to begin for any topic is
in the encyclopedia –especially an
online encyclopedia
Such as: Britannica, WorldBook, etc.
So your next thought may be:
“What about “Wikipedia”?!”
Well read this disturbing article:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/edit
orials/2005-11-29-wikipedia-edit_x.htm
Wikipedia
Well – There is a way to find somewhat trustworthy
articles in Wikipedia and that is to look for the
lock.
In Wikipedia some pages are protected and some
are not and there are many levels of protection in
between.
To learn about this click on the lock that you see on
the right above Martin Luther King’s picture. Click
on that lock –but first click on this one
Click me
So if Wikipedia is questionable and Google
presents to me millions of untrustworthy
websites where can I research online?
Choose which on-line resources you may use next:
Databases
Non-fiction books
Webpage/Internet
Or if you missed it go back to Wikipedia lock
Non-fiction books
–many are online now.
• Card Catalog/OPAC – where you look up your books!
-You may look up a book by: topic,
title, authors name, or call number.
• Dewey Decimal System – use the call number to look
up your book!
Click when finger
appears
• Go back to list
Databases
• The most reliable and trustworthy internet source!
As you learned from the vampire website – the question
when it comes to a website is:
“Can you trust it?”
• It is purchased by your school because it is trust worthy
and has tons of data and information.
• This collection of data or information is usually from
multiple sources such as: books, newspapers,
magazines, etc.!
Go back to list
Webpage/Internet
www._Foooled You?
• As the zombie/vampire & MLK websites showed
us we cannot just “Google it” or trust every
website –so where do you begin your search on
the internet?
Well how do you find someone’s home?
That’s right. –Begin with the address.
Go back to list
Go Forward
Web Addresses you can trust!
• .edu =
education
• .gov = government
Web domains to not trust.
• Unless paid for by the school such as a
database or is well-established and familiar.
• .org =
organization
• .net =
network
• .com =
company
What if you cannot find what you need in websites with
domains of .edu or .gov?
• Well you can use this 7 step checklist to ensure that you will never be
fooled again.
1.
Does the date (usually located at the bottom of a webpage) of the last
time the page or site was updated matter?
Well it does if you need current information as in science information
and world news.
2.
Scroll to the bottom of the CNN website to see. –Click here.
2.
Does the website offer an email or ‘to link’ for me to ask questions or
comments?
The only people who do not answer questions are those who
have something to hide.
Checklist
3.
If the site or author is unfamiliar does the author need to list
his/her credentials (– info. about them –who are they)?
How do you know the author is a real doctor or respected
professor, etc.?
-Usually the author’s info. or the organization’s info. is in the
‘About’ section located at the top of the webpage.
Check out the ‘About ALA’ at the upper left side of this webpage -click
here
Checklist
4. Does the website need a bibliography or to show where they got
their info. from?
Only facts that are false or fake need no bibliography.
5. Do I need to know who sponsored the site?
Click on the name of the sponsor (at the bottom-the sponsor
or the one paying for the website is at usually at the bottom of the
page) of this MLK site/page:
http://martinlutherking.org/
Checklist for verifying trustworthiness
Check the content:
6. Why do I need to look for bias or un-fair views?
Can you tell if the author’s of this website have a fair
view toward immigrants?
http://www.fairus.org/site/PageServer
7. Are they selling/advertising in disguise?
If someone’s #1 goal is to try to sell you their stuff
especially in disguise can you trust them to care about
offering you the best researched and trustworthy
information for your search or project?
Print this!
To print this checklist go to ‘print’ then choose ‘current slide’.
Check for the vital information:
___ 1. Last date page updated - does it need to be current?
___ 2. Is there an email or ‘link’ for questions, comments?
___ 3. If site is unfamiliar – is there credentials of the author?
–who are they?!
___ 4. Are facts or info. supported by a bibliography?
Check the content:
___ 5. Who sponsored the site?
___ 6. Is there bias?
___ 7. Are they selling/advertising in disguise?
Think your ready to never be fooled again?
-Take the Challenge!
• 1st -click on the link at the top of each question
page to view the webpage.
• 2nd - use your checklist to evaluate the website to
see if you would trust them or not.
(Be sure to check off each of the 7 characteristics
of a trustworthy site.)
Go back to print checklist
• Next click on ‘Yes’ if the site is trustworthy or click
on the specific reason if your answer is ‘No’.
Don’t Forget:
With clicking all web
addresses in this
powerpoint you will be
taken out of the
powerpt & you need to
just exit out of that
website to return to
this powerpt.
Ready to test your new skills?
1.
Can you trust this website?:
http://147.129.226.1/library/research/AIDSFACTS.htm
‘ Yes’ or ‘No’ because:
Check for the vital information:
1. Has no ‘Last date page updated’ or it is not current.
2. Has no ‘email or to link’ for questions or comments.
3. If site is unfamiliar –has no credentials or info. on the author!
4. Facts or info. are not supported by a bibliography.
Check the content:
5. Does not list the sponsor or info. on the sponsor of the site.
6. Has bias or unfairly represents one-side of an issue.
7. Their main purpose is for selling/advertising something.
Hone your skills.
2. Can you trust this website?:
http://www.truthaboutaids.com/
‘ Yes’ or ‘No’ because:
Check for the vital information:
1. Has no ‘Last date page updated’ or it is not current.
2. Has no ‘email or to link’ for questions or comments.
3. If site is unfamiliar –has no credentials or info. on the author!
4. Facts or info. are not supported by a bibliography.
Check the content:
5. Does not list the sponsor or info. on the sponsor of the site.
6. Has bias or unfairly represents one-side of an issue.
7. Their main purpose is for selling/advertising something.
You got skillz?
3. Would you trust this website?:
http://www.smokingsection.com/issues1.html#smoke
‘ Yes’ or
‘No’ because:
Check for the vital information:
1. Has no ‘Last date page updated’ or it is not current.
2. Has no email or ‘to link’ for questions or comments.
3. If site is unfamiliar –has no credentials or info. on the author!
4. Facts or info. are not supported by a bibliography.
Check the content:
5. Does not list the sponsor or info. on the sponsor of the site.
6. Has bias or unfairly represents one-side of an issue.
7. Their main purpose is for selling/advertising something.
What do you know?
4.
How about this site? :
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00030959.htm
‘ Yes’ or
‘No’ because:
Check for the vital information:
1. Has no ‘Last date page updated’ or it is not current.
2. Has no ‘Mail-to link’ for questions or comments.
3. If site is unfamiliar –has no credentials or info. on the author!
4. Facts or info. are not supported by a bibliography.
Check the content:
5. Does not list the sponsor or info. on the sponsor of the site.
6. Has bias or unfairly represents one-side of an issue.
7. Their main purpose is for selling/advertising something.
Getting Better?
5.
How about this one?:
http://www.who.int/docstore/tobacco/ntday/ntday96/index.htm
‘ Yes’ or
‘No’ because:
Check for the vital information:
1. Has no ‘Last date page updated’ or it is not current.
2. Has no ‘email or to link’ for questions or comments.
3. If site is unfamiliar –has no credentials or info. on the author!
4. Facts or info. are not supported by a bibliography.
Check the content:
5. Does not list the sponsor or info. on the sponsor of the site.
6. Has bias or unfairly represents one-side of an issue.
7. Their main purpose is for selling/advertising something.
What you got?!
6. Can you trust this website?:
http://www.d-b.net/dti/
‘ Yes’ or
‘No’ because:
Check for the vital information:
1. Has no ‘Last date page updated’ or it is not current.
2. Has no ‘Mail-to link’ for questions or comments. If site is unfamiliar –has no
credentials or info. on the author!
3. If site is unfamiliar –has no credentials or info. on the author!
4. Facts or info. are not supported by a bibliography.
Check the content:
5. Does not list the sponsor or info. on the sponsor of the site.
6. Has bias or unfairly represents one-side of an issue.
7. Their main purpose is for selling/advertising something.
Correct!
This page should be current since it is a science
related topic.
Correct!
They need to have a link or email address listed
so you can ask questions or contact.
Correct!
•This could be anybody!
How do we know who
this person is?!
• Go now to next question #2!
Yes!!
Did their uncle tell them this in a dream?! –How
do we know this is reliable info.?!
-the facts are not supported by a bibliography!
And where is the author or the sponsor info.?!
• Now go to the last question!
You got it!
• Yes the copyright date is old and it does not
have a recent ‘last date updated’ at the
bottom of the page.
• Now go on to question #4 -
Yep!
• If this website is fair and unbiased then
everyone in the class can go home now
because school is closed for good!
( J.K. )
Go back to #3 to find the other reason.
Correct!
• That’s it!
Firstly - This website has too many pages you need
to go through.
And –it offers no info. on the author!
Secondly – It is trying to disguise its advertising as
AIDs information.
(How low can you go!)
• Go now to next question -#3
That’s It!
• This website has a few things wrong with it –
Go back to and find the others
Correct!
• Go on to question #4!
Correct!
• This is a .gov!
• Go on to question # 5!
Correct!
• Yes, always ask:
“Who authored or created the content!”
• And it does not give a bibliography.
• Go on to see your score!
Yes!!!!!!
• You have mastered this quiz.
• Go on to the last page
Sorry. Try again.
• Return to question #1
on AIDS facts about women :
Sorry.
• Return to question #2
Sorry.
• Return to question #3
Sorry.
• Return to question #4
Sorry.
• Return to question #5
Now you are ready to for Step 3 – locating &
accessing your sources & websites!
Don’t forget to use what you’ve learned:
• 1. Begin searching with online encyclopedias
(only use Wikipedia with locks!) and databases.
• 2. Look for .edu or .gov in the domain address of
websites.
• 3. If none, then use your checklist to evaluate the
website to get trustworthy information and the
best grade!
• 4. Never be fooled again!
Sorry.
• Return to question #6
Bibliography
• Pictures:
Creative Commons –free pictures, etc. without copyright!
http://creativecommons.org/
• Clip Art:
Microsoft Corp.
Go
Home
S
• Information based on:
• Bare bones 101: A basic tutorial on searching the web. (n.d.). University of
South Carolina. Retrieved March 02, 2011, from
http://www.sc.edu/beaufort/library/pages/bones/bones.shtml
•
I Need to... Learn How to do Research — OSLIS. (n.d.). Welcome! Who are
you? — OSLIS. Retrieved March 7, 2011, from http://secondary.oslis.org/learnto-research