Website+Bias+Evaluation


 * Keep in mind the following questions to help you recognize bias:**
 * Is the information presented in a fair, objective manner?
 * Has some information been left out?
 * Can the facts be verified with another source? (cross-referencing)
 * What is the tone of the language used? Is it free of emotion-evoking words?
 * Are there pictures and photos which may evoke emotion?
 * Is the appearance of the website appealing and colorful with lots of graphics, animation, or celebrities trying to grab your attention?
 * Does the website contain advertising?

Here are some important steps you can take to help you recognize bias, evaluate information and determine its trustworthiness and validity: > To do this, shorten the full address to the domain name. > This will help you learn more about the purpose of the website. > You can read the mission statement and find out who owns the website > Do this by typing the “link” command in the search box of a search engine. > Type “link:” followed by the URL. Example: link:www.nra.org/
 * 1) Notice the domain suffix – .com .edu .org
 * 2) Identify the host domain.
 * 1) Search information about the author or organization creating the website.
 * 2) Find out the websites that link to the page.

Complete the Bias checklist for each of these websites:
 * PRACTICE** evaluating bias in websites.


 * Sports Drinks [|Powerade]
 * Pro-Test [|Animal Testing]
 * [|Pocahontas]

More Practice: visit the [|'Jo Fool or Jo Cool' website.] click the 'Cybertour' to play the "Jo Cool or Jo Fool Game" and then click 'Cyberquiz' to test your cyber knowledge.

American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition (2000). // “bias” // Retrieved March 22, 2009, from Bartleby.com Web site:[| http://www.bartleby.com/]
 * References:**

Christensson, Karen M. (2008). //Bias//. Retrieved March 15, 2009, from RADCAB Your Vehicle For Information Evaluation Web site: [| http://www.radcab.com/]

Kirk, Elizabeth E. (1996) //Evaluating Information Found on the Internet.// Retrieved March 12, 2009, from The Sheridan Library at Johns Hopkins University

Website:[]

Media Awareness Network. (2009). //Bias,// Retrieved March 15, 2009. Website: []

Media Awareness Network (2009). //Detecting Bias In the News,// Retrieved March 15, 2009. Web site: []

Media Awareness Network (2009). //The 5 W’s of Cyberspace//, Retrieved March 12, 2009 from Website: [| http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/resources/educational/handouts/internet/5ws_cyberspace.cfm]

Ormondroyd, Joan. (2004). //Critically Analyzing Information Sources,// Retrieved March 15, 2009 from Olin & Uris Libraries, Cornell University, Website: []

Teams Educational Resources. (200 //Evaluating, Selecting and Citing Web Sources,// Retrieved March 16, 2009 from Los Angeles County Office of Education, Website: []