Fact or Fiction – Internet Librarian

Be an Internet Librarian. Use the 5W’s and the tips on URL Detective to compare the following pairs of websites. Decide if the information on each website is fact or fiction. Keep track of the steps you take to evaluate each web site. You will have to provide an annotation, a statement explaining how you know the information is valid, reliable and true facts.

Topic 1: Endangered Species

  1. Blue Poison Frog
  2. Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus

Topic 2: Crops

  1. California Velcro Crop under Challenge (1993)
  2. Mandarin Orange

Topic 3: Early Explorers

  1. About Explorers
  2. Explorers

Topic 4: Weather

  1. Case Analysis of a Historic Killer Tornado Event in Kansas on 10 June 1938
  2. Tornadoes

Topic 5: Dogs

  1. Burmese Mountain Dog
  2. Redbone Coon Hound

Topic 6:  A Dangerous Chemical

  1. Ban DHMO: Dihydrogen Monoxide
  2. Facts about Dihydrogen Monoxide

Topic 7: The Mind

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Several links above are from Kathy Schrock’s list

Web Site Evaluation 5Ws

5 W’s: Who, What, Where, When, Why

Who

  • Who published the website?
  • Who is responsible for the content found on the website?
  • What are the qualifications of the web publisher?
  • Is contact information provided?

What

  • What is the purpose of the site?
  • Is the information consistent with other sources?

Where

  • Where does the information come from?
  • Is it a primary or secondary source?
  • Are sources cited?

When

  • When was the site created?
  • When was the site last update?
  • Is the information recent enough to be useful?
  • Are the links up-to-date or are they broken?

Why

  • Why would you use it? Did the site give you with the information you were researching?

Summary: OK to use? Be prepared to defend the source of information. Can you annotate the information website with a statement about how you know this is a valid, reliable, up-to-date source of information. Yes or No?

5Ws: Based on information from: Web 2.0 Applications for Children’s Services Summer/Fall 2007 – This material has been created by Bonnie L. Peirce for the Infopeople Project [infopeople.org], supported by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian. Any use of this material should credit the author and funding source.

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