© 2005 Pearson Education Inc. Publishing as Longman Student Resource Guide: Reading and Evaluating Internet Sources Active Reading Skills, 1/e Kathleen

© 2005 Pearson Education Inc. Publishing as Longman

Student Resource Guide: Reading and Evaluating

Internet Sources

Active Reading Skills, 1/eKathleen McWhorter

PowerPoints by Gretchen Starks-Martin


Reading Electronic Text

Focus on your purpose for visiting the site.Get used to the site’s design and layout.

1. Discover how it is organized.2. Expect the first screen to make a main

point.3. Get used to the layout before you try to

obtain information.4. Consider the focus and limitations of

your learning style. Words and graphics are important in Web sites.



Get used to the site’s design and layout. As you scroll through, ask the following questions:

What information is available?How is it arranged on the screen?Can you search the site using a search option or box?Is there a site map?



Pay attention to how information is organized.1. Use the site map to discover what information

is available and how it is organized.2. Consider the order in which you want to take

in information.3. Write brief notes to yourself as you explore a

complicated Web site. You may want to print the homepage or save pages as a text file on your computer.

4. Expect shorter, less detailed sentences and paragraphs.



Use links to find the information you need.1. Plan on exploring links to find complete and

detailed information.2. Bookmark your original site and other useful sites

you come across so you can find them again.3. If you use a site or link that has many pages, print

the material and read it offline.4. If you lack background on a topic, use links to fill in

the gap or search for a different Web site.5. If you get lost, most Internet browsers have a

history feature so that you can retrace the links you followed.


Evaluating Internet Sources: Types of Web sites

InformationalNewsAdvocacy (promotion)PersonalCommercial

See Table C-1 for types, purpose, and sample sites.


Evaluating Internet Sources: Content

Evaluate the appropriateness for your purpose.

Evaluate the source.Who is the sponsor?Why was this site put up?What does the URL, its copyright, and the links tell you about the sponsor?



Evaluate the level of technical detail suited to your purpose.

Evaluate the presentation of the material for clearness and written grammar.

Evaluate the completeness of the material.

Evaluate the links. Do they work? Are they current?



Evaluate the accuracy of the site.Are the author’s name and credentials provided?How does it compare to other sources for accuracy of information?Is contact information for the author on the site?Is the information complete or in summary form?If there are opinions, are they presented clearly as opinions?Does the writer make unsubstantiated assumptions?Does the site provide a list of works cited?



Evaluate the timeliness of the Web site. Check for:The date when it was put on the Web.The date when the document you are using was added.The date when the site was last revised.The date when the links were last checked.Ask: Does timeliness matter for the topic of the Web site?


Visit the Companion Website

http://www.ablongman.com/mcwhorter

Documents

© 2005 Pearson Education Inc. Publishing as Longman Student Resource Guide: Reading and Evaluating Internet Sources Active Reading Skills, 1/e Kathleen