identifying high-quality sites
Anyone can be an "author" on the World Wide Web. Site creators don't have to be experts in any subject. Their "facts" don't have to be true. They don't have to fix errors if some are found. They can pretend that their opinions are true facts. They can even choose to include unkind or harmful statements.
All that's really needed in order to be a Web author is knowledge of how to build a site. With the software available today, it is even easier to create a site than it was a few years ago.
So when you need to research a topic, which Web sites should you trust? It's up to you to judge which sites are trustworthy. You also need to judge which sites meet your needs. The "Website Test Check" below will help you decide whether or not to use informational site for research. If the site doesn't measure up, move on and find another one.
All that's really needed in order to be a Web author is knowledge of how to build a site. With the software available today, it is even easier to create a site than it was a few years ago.
So when you need to research a topic, which Web sites should you trust? It's up to you to judge which sites are trustworthy. You also need to judge which sites meet your needs. The "Website Test Check" below will help you decide whether or not to use informational site for research. If the site doesn't measure up, move on and find another one.
website_test_check.doc | |
File Size: | 45 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Domain Suffixes
The domain suffix provides you with a clue about the purpose or audience of a
Web site. The domain suffix might also give you a clue about the geographic
origin of a Web site.
Here follows a list of the most common domain suffixes and the types of
organizations that would use them.
.com
Commercial site. The information provided by
commercial interests is generally going to shed a positive light on the product
it promotes. While this information might not necessarily be false, you might
be getting only part of the picture. Remember, there's an incentive
behind every commercial site in providing you with information, whether it is
for good public relations or to sell you a product outright.
.edu
Educational institution. Sites using this domain
name are schools ranging from kindergarten to higher education.
Information from sites within this domain must be examined very carefully.
.gov
Government. If you come across a site with this
domain, then you're viewing a federal government site. All branches of the
United States federal government use this domain. The information
is considered to be from a credible
source.
.org
Traditionally a non-profit organization.
Organizations such as the American Red Cross or PBS (Public Broadcasting System)
use this domain suffix. Generally, the information in these types of sites is
credible and unbiased, but there are examples of organizations that strongly
advocate specific points of view over others.
.net
Network. You might find any kind of site under
this domain suffix. It acts as a catch-all for sites that don't fit into any of
the preceding domain suffixes. Information from these sites should be given
careful scrutiny.
The domain suffix provides you with a clue about the purpose or audience of a
Web site. The domain suffix might also give you a clue about the geographic
origin of a Web site.
Here follows a list of the most common domain suffixes and the types of
organizations that would use them.
.com
Commercial site. The information provided by
commercial interests is generally going to shed a positive light on the product
it promotes. While this information might not necessarily be false, you might
be getting only part of the picture. Remember, there's an incentive
behind every commercial site in providing you with information, whether it is
for good public relations or to sell you a product outright.
.edu
Educational institution. Sites using this domain
name are schools ranging from kindergarten to higher education.
Information from sites within this domain must be examined very carefully.
.gov
Government. If you come across a site with this
domain, then you're viewing a federal government site. All branches of the
United States federal government use this domain. The information
is considered to be from a credible
source.
.org
Traditionally a non-profit organization.
Organizations such as the American Red Cross or PBS (Public Broadcasting System)
use this domain suffix. Generally, the information in these types of sites is
credible and unbiased, but there are examples of organizations that strongly
advocate specific points of view over others.
.net
Network. You might find any kind of site under
this domain suffix. It acts as a catch-all for sites that don't fit into any of
the preceding domain suffixes. Information from these sites should be given
careful scrutiny.