Overview

If you ever need to answer a question related to something you know very little about, you'll probably go to a search engine and start trying to find Web site that will answer that question. But which of the many sites listed are actually reliable?

This assignment will give you practice evaluating Web sites in areas you are probably unfamiliar with, and systematically analyzing them for reliability.

Start by choosing five (5) questions from the list below. You'll be investigating each of them on the Web, and it will actually help your investigation if you choose questions in areas you're not familiar with.

Choose five of the following questions:

1. What does the current US law say about buying prescription drugs in Canada?
2. Is quantum mechanics replacing classical physics? If so, why?
3. What is the proportion of visible matter to dark matter in the universe? Why do scientists believe this is the correct ratio, and how sure are they?
4. What is the dinosaur that has been most recently discovered by scientists?
5. What are pheromones, and how do they work?
6. How do infants develop attachments and bond to their caregivers?
7. The Kingdom of Tonga has several sources of foreign revenue. What are the three most important, and what are their prospects for the future?
8. A patient has chronic dry eyes and a dry mouth. What is his condition called? Hint: It's not eyestrain!
9. A patient with Fibromyalgia is scheduled for admission to the hospital. What are her symptoms likely to be?
10. You are working with a Scleroderma patient. Are there any support groups to which you could refer him?
11. Lyme Disease is a condition caused by a highly specialized bacterium. What is the vector that transports these bacteria?
12. A small Pacific island nation leases rights to its Internet country-code top-level domain name (ccTLD) as a major source of national income. What is this nation, and what are its prospects for continued income from leasing rights to its ccTLD?
13. Several countries in the southern hemisphere have gained major footholds in wine markets of the northern hemisphere. What are these countries, and what are the challenges they face in keeping the wine flowing north?A
14. Chagas Disease is also transported by a vector, but is not caused by bacterial infection.What is the organism that causes it?
15. What is the current danger of Bubonic Plague in America?
16. A patient with Schistosomiasis has been admitted to a nearby hospital.What part of the world is this person likely to have visited?
17. A child is diagnosed with Batten Disease. How did the child contract this condition?

For each question you chose:

1. Using one or more search engines, search for answers to the question.
2. Decide (fairly quickly) which three (3) of the many hits have the most potential to answer the question.
3. Examine each of these three Web sites in the following "critical areas":
   1. Accuracy
   2. Authority
   3. Objectivity
   4. Currency
   5. Coverage
   (Note that each of these "critical areas" is discussed in module W18c, and each is linked to the corresponding discussion. In each area there are questions to ask which will help you analyze the sites.)
4. Make notes on each "critical area" for the site. You may want to print the form linked to this page (http://courses.wccnet.edu/computer/mod/w19h_form.htm).
   Remember: your goal is not to answer the question, but to analyze the Web sites for reliability.

After finishing one question, go on to the next until you have done all five (5) questions.

When you've finished analyzing three sites for each of the five questions (total: 15 sites), you'll need to write a brief report on each site. An HTML form (http://courses.wccnet.edu/computer/mod/w19h_form.htm) is supplied for you to do this.

Report Guidelines

• You may use any method of Web composition you like to fill in the form - text editor, HTML editor, Dreamweaver, word processor, etc.
• Substitute your name of "Sarah Strong", and put in your correct section.
• Use copy-and-paste to put in the questions and URLs where indicated.
• You need not write long answers: in fact, brief is better.
• However, avoid yes/no answers: give reasons and include links to details on the site if you think that will help.
• Focus on answering the "Questions to Ask" at the end of each "critical area" discussion in module W18c. Use the links to the University of Louisville's site for examples.
• Spelling counts: Use a spelling checker and proof-read your report.

Upload your report to the WCC Student Website (or other site as directed by your instructor).

Your instructor may want you to present a report in class. If so:

• One question of the five you chose will be selected for you to report on (however, your written report on all five is required for full credit on the assignment.)
• You will use your HTML report form as visual backup to your presentation.
• Remember that your verbal report must be kept brief to give all class members a chance to present their findings.