Evaluation


The World Wide Web can be a great place to accomplish research on many topics. But putting documents or pages on the web is easy, cheap or free, unregulated, and unmonitored. There is a famous Steiner cartoon published in the //New Yorker// (July 5, 1993) with two dogs sitting before a terminal looking at a computer screen; one says to the other "On the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog." The great wealth that the Internet has brought to so much of society is the ability for people to express themselves, find one another, exchange ideas, discover possible peers worldwide they never would have otherwise met, and, through hypertext links in web pages, suggest so many other people's ideas and personalities to anyone who comes and clicks. There are some real "dogs" out there, but there's also great treasure. Therein lies the rationale for evaluating carefully whatever you find on the Web. The burden is on you - the reader - to establish the validity, authorship, timeliness, and integrity of what you find. Documents can easily be copied and falsified or copied with omissions and errors -- intentional or accidental. In the general World Wide Web there are no editors (unlike most print publications) to proofread and "send it back" or "reject it" until it meets the standards of a publishing house's reputation. Most pages found in general search engines for the web are self-published or published by businesses small and large with motives to get you to buy something or believe a point of view. Even within university and library web sites, there can be many pages that the institution does not try to oversee. //The web needs to be free like that!! And you, if you want to do use it for serious research, need to cultivate the habit of healthy skepticism, of questioning everything you find with critical thinking.//  You can begin evaluating a physical information source (a book or an article for instance) even before you have the physical item in hand. Appraise a source by first examining the bibliographic citation. The bibliographic citation is the written description of a book, journal article, essay, or some other published material that appears in a catalog or index. Bibliographic citations characteristically have three main components: author, title, and publication information. These components can help you determine the usefulness of this source for your paper. (In the same way, you can appraise a Web site by examining the home page carefully.) >>> Example. In search box enter: link:www.whitehouse.net Ask for advice at a library reference desk or talk to your instructor
 * **1. What can the URL tell you? ** ||
 * What type of domain does it come from (educational, nonprofit, commercial, etc.)?
 * Is it appropriate for the content?
 * Government sites: look for .gov, .mil, .us, or other country code
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Educational sites: look for .edu or another country code
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l3 level3 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 108.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Nonprofit organisations: .org or a country code .ie
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Who "published" the page?
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l3 level2 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">In general, the publisher is the agency or person operating the "server" computer from which the document is issued.
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l3 level3 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 108.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">The server is usually named in first portion of the <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; textunderline: none;">[|URL] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> (between //http://// and the first /////).
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Is it somebody's <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; textunderline: none;">[|personal page] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">?
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l3 level2 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Read the <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; textunderline: none;">[|URL] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> carefully:
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l3 level3 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 108.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Is the server a commercial <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; textunderline: none;">[|ISP] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> or other provider of web page hosting (like aol.com or geocities.com)?
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l3 level3 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 108.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Look for a personal name (e.g., //jbarker// or //barker//) following a tilde ( **~** ) or or the word "users" or "people.
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">2. Who wrote the page? Is he, she, or the authoring institution a qualified authority? **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Look for a name and e-mail.
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l4 level2 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Often at the bottom of the page, or in a section called something like "About us" or "Contact us."
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l4 level2 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">It is usually not the same person as the "webmaster" or page designer (except in personal pages). This person is a technician or may have been hired to put the content on the web.
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Are the author's credentials provided? Does this person seem to be a reliable authority on the subject?
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l4 level2 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Look all over (top, bottom, side bars, etc.) for a link to an "About us" or "Biography" section, a "Philosophy," etc.?
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l4 level2 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> of the [|URL] :
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l4 level3 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 108.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">In the top Location Box, delete the end characters of the URL stopping just before each / (leave the slash). Press enter to see if you can see more about the author or the origins/nature of the site providing the page.
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l4 level3 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 108.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Continue this one slash (/) at a time until you reach the first part, the domain name portion, which is the page's "publisher".
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l4 level2 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Find out <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; textunderline: none;">[|who owns] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> the domain name? Often possible, with names, phone and fax numbers.
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">3. Is it dated? Current, timely? **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">When was the page updated last? Can you tell how much was updated? Is this important for the timeliness of what you want to know?
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l7 level2 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Look at bottom of the page, usually.
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l7 level3 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 108.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Individual pages may be updated at different times; look at more than one.
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l7 level2 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Look at Netscape's "Page Info" (right click in the page, or look under View | Page Info).
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l7 level3 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 108.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">If this is out of date, be suspicious of a stale page. If current, be suspicious that Page Info was changed but nothing else.
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l7 level2 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Look at other pages from this site:
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l7 level3 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 108.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">You may learn something by truncating back the URL and viewing "parent" or related pages. Not all pages are updated at the same time.
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Is the date appropriate for the content? Is it "stale" or "dusty" information on a time-sensitive or evolving topic?
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l7 level2 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">CAUTION: **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> Undated factual or statistical information is no better than anonymous information. Don't use it.
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">4. Is information cited authentic? **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">If the page claims to be from an established newspaper, journal, organization, institution, agency, is it the real one?
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l6 level2 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Check if the domain name corresponds to the source.
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l6 level2 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Most companies and institutions own their own name. <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; textunderline: none;">[|Check the owner] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> of the domain name if in doubt.
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l6 level2 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Government sites should be .gov, .mil, or some .us, or from another country's official sites.
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Is it unmodified if it purports to be a reproduction, facsimile, or excerpt of a published piece?
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l6 level2 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">It is really easy to copy and tinker with the content of a page and put it back on the web with copies of the original logo, banners, credits, and other information.
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l6 level2 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Locate the original to be sure, either elsewhere on the Web or try the library (ask at a reference desk for help).
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Is the source of factual or attributed information well documented?
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l6 level2 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Unless a known, reputable publisher or institution vouches for the content, require for your research that sources and claims be substantiated by links to reliable sources or references (notes or footnotes as in a published work).
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l6 level2 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Again, **CAUTION:** Standards for footnoting and citing where people obtained information (and when) are very lax on the Web, much less exacting that in most print publications. But, the standards you want to adhere to in your research want to be the highest possible. If you don't have the source and date for attributed information, find it or don't use the information. A reference librarian might be able to help you find the source if you cannot find it online.
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">5. Does the page have overall integrity and reliability as a source? **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">What's the purpose of the page? Why was it created?
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Inform? Explain? Facts or data? Persuade, promote? Sell? Share, disclose? Rant? Entice?
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Who else links to the page? Where is it "cited"? What do they think of its quality and integrity?
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Look for awards (or links to an "Awards" page) from reputable directories and guides. Click on these and see what they say. Do not take the award at face value without checking it out.
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Use a search engine like Google or AltaVista to see who links to the page. Then visit some of those sites to see what they say about the page in question.
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 108.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">In <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; textunderline: none;">[|Google] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> or <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; textunderline: none;">[|AltaVista] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> precede the URL by the term link: with no space after the colon.
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 108.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">In <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; textunderline: none;">[|Google Advance Search] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> put the URL in the box labeled"Find pages that link to the page."
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Look for the page in a reliably annotated subject directory.
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Examples: <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; textunderline: none;">[|Librarians' Index] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">, <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; textunderline: none;">[|Infomine] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">, <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; textunderline: none;">[|About.com] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> (quality of annotations varies), <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; textunderline: none;">[|Scout Report] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">  ||
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo6; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Who <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; textunderline: none;">[|sponsors] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> the page? Might the sponsors have a vested interest in the viewpoint presented?
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l5 level2 lfo6; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Look for links to "sponsors," "About us," "Philosophy," etc.
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l5 level2 lfo6; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Advertisers can also be sponsors. Could the points of view be constrained or bent to keep or attract advertisers?
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo6; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Are there links to other viewpoints? Balanced? Annotated?
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo6; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Anything not said that could be said? And perhaps would be said if all points of view were represented?
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l5 level2 lfo6; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Try to think of alternative viewpoints, and ask if they are represented or linked to.
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo6; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Look for your own bias:
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l5 level2 lfo6; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Are you being completely fair? Too harsh? Totally objective? Requiring the same degree of "proof" you would from a print publication?
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l5 level2 lfo6; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Is the site good for some things and not for others?
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l5 level2 lfo6; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Are your hopes biasing your interpretation?
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">7. Could the page or site be ironic, like a satire or a spoof? **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo7; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Think about the "tone" of the page. Humorous? Parody? Exaggerated? Overblown arguments? Outrageous photographs or juxtaposition of unlikely images? Arguing a viewpoint with examples that suggest that what is argued is ultimately not possible.
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo7; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Perform all the other tests above on the page, and, if you do not find other information to explain the tone, question whether the page is an irony that you might feel foolish to cite as if it were factual or straightforward.
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo7; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">There are many very well done satiric pages on the Web. Some are in the exercise above. Take a look at these sites on the US <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; textunderline: none;">[|Whitehouse] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> and <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; textunderline: none;">[|Whitehouse] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">.
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">8. If you have questions or reservations, how can you satisfy them? **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo8; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">E-mail the author or publisher and ask for more background.
 * <span style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo8; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Consult a print publication, perhaps in the Library.