Authored+Sources

toc =Fake Websites Exist!=
 * Why does it matter where information comes from?**


 * Check out this fake website: [|Interested in visiting Mankato, Minnesota?]
 * Just because something is on the Internet does not mean that it is true, or that it is scientific. It is important to verify the 5 W's when using an Internet resource.

=Evaluating Information= WHO wrote a website- are they an expert? Can they be contacted if you need more information? WHAT is the purpose of the website- Are they trying to persuade you? Is the site trying to earn money? Is this information different from other sites on the same topic? WHEN was the site created? When was it last updated? WHERE did the information come from? Are they the original source, or did they cite their sources? Who is the sponsor of the website?
 * Use the [|5 W's] when deciding which website to use.**
 * WHY is this information useful for my purpose? Why should I use this information? Why is this page better than another?**

=But I can't find an author!=

Here is a good rule of thumb. Can you email, call, write, or visit a person, company, business, school, college, etc. that is listed on this page? If so, it can be considered an author.

Examples of authors:


 * First and Last Names (try googling them to determine if they are really who they say they are)
 * Company or Business names
 * Government Organizations (these URLs tend to end in .gov)
 * Colleges or Universities (these URLs tend to end in .edu)
 * A first name of a person with a valid email address, mailing address, or phone number

=**Wikipedia**=

[|Wikipedia] can be a useful resource, but one must approach the information with caution. Wikipedia is a giant wiki, just like our classroom wiki. The difference is that Mr. Yeargin and I are the only ones who can add or delete information. In Wikipedia, anyone can add or delete information. People with different opinions and views may be motivated to change facts to benefit their ideas and beliefs. Though the staff at Wikipedia does a wonderful job of editing, the information could still be wrong, biased, or misleading. For the purposes of this project you MAY use wikipedia. However, this will NOT count as an authored source. Wikipedia does not have an author, and the information you may find in an article comes from multiple unnamed authors. Hopefully if you have adequate authored sources you can verify the information you find.

If you want to get fancy, explore the history tab in both this wiki and wikipedia- you can track the changes. This can be helpful when evaluating information on wikipedia. If you notice certain facts being changed back and forth you know this is a controversial topic.

=How to Cite Sources in your Writing=

(information on this page has been adapted from Kathy Schrock, http://kathyschrock.net/abceval/5ws.htm)