Library Homepage: Web Literacy

Use the REAL test to help you evaluate websites:

R - Read the URL The web address can tell you information about the site such as which country or type of organization owns the site.

E - Examine the site's content  Does this site provide information relevant to your task? Is it reliable? Is it current?

A - Ask about the author Who is the author of the site? Is this someone who is an authority in their field?

L - Look at the site Does the site look like a student's work? Is it filled with advertising? Does it look professional?

• Use key words - don't just put your assignment topic or question into the Search Engine, think about what information you are looking for and use the Key Words.

• Use the Advanced Search options - Google provides an Advance Search Option where you can identify type of file, date of file and many other variables which will improve your Search Result.  To access Advance Search in Google you need to Click on the Cog on the side panel AFTER you have put in your search term.

• Use Boolean operators -and, or, not (use the Boolean Machine to see how using these operators will improve your search results - Rockwell Boolean Machine)

10 good reasons why you should never trust Wikipedia as an accurate source of information:

Many students seem to think that Wikipedia is a reliable and credible source of information - despite the fact that they have probably added information to it themselves.  Below are some thought-provoking reasons why you should not use Wikipedia for your assignments.

10. You must never fully rely on any one source for important information 

9. You especially can’t rely on something when you don’t even know who wrote it

8.  The contributor with an agenda often prevails

7. Individuals with agendas sometimes have significant editing authority

6. Sometimes “vandals” create malicious entries that go uncorrected for month

5. There is little diversity among editors

4. The number of active Wikipedia editors has flat-lined

3. It has become harder for casual participants to contribute

2. Accurate contributors can be silenced

And the number one reason:

1. It says so on Wikipedia

"Wikipedia says, “We do not expect you to trust us.” It adds that it is “not a primary source” and that “because some articles may contain errors,” you should “not use Wikipedia to make critical decisions.”

Furthermore, Wikipedia notes in its “About” section, “Users should be aware that not all articles are of encyclopedic quality from the start: they may contain false or debatable information.”

Read more details about each of these reasons, including good examples, at:

(E. Moran, Mark. "The Top 10 Reasons Students Cannot Cite or Rely on Wikipedia." findingDulcinea. March 19, 2010)