Credibility of resources

What is credibility of a resource?
A+R+S = authentic + reliable + supported by evidence
How reliable is information on the Internet? How do I check sources and their credibility?
*Author's name
** Title or position
*** Organizational affiliation
**** Date the page was created or last updated
***** Contact information (i.e., email)

Where do we look?
** About us
*** Contact information
**** Bottom of page, with Webmaster info and copyright
***** Headers, footers, HTML code (right-click, view source)
Domain names
<.edu> <.gov> <.mil> <.org> <.com>

Red Flags
Sources are not clearly cited
Anonymous authors
Multiple misspellings and typos, bad grammar
Poorly presented information
Site is out of date// No updates
Too many ads
One-sided view
Generalization
Very emotional language

Practice 1
http://www.foodsafety.gov/
http://borisakunin.livejournal.com/
http://www.uncg.edu/ipg/iss/intl_student_scholar_serv.html
http://www.neta.com/~1stbooks/

Practice 2
Identify ‘red flags’
http://www.okpri.com/WhatIsAGhost&DoTheyReallyExist.htm
http://ezinearticles.com/?Do-Ghosts-Really-Exist?-How-One-Woman-Found-Definitive-Proof&id=1358287

Using Facts, Opinions and Arguments
OPINIONS: beliefs, not always based on good evidence, even if most people agree.
FACTS: can be checked against evidence, used in academic writing.
ARGUMENTS: reasons (which can include fact), support a point of view.

Opinion? Fact? Argument?
I think there should be fewer adverts on TV.
There were an average of 35 adverts an hour on channel X, on 25th July 2007.
Adverts for toys should not be shown on TV because research by Dr Meehan (2008) suggests that they…

Critical Analytical Thinking
Critical thinking: weighting up arguments and evidence for and against.
Project Work Tips:
Be clear about your conclusions
Have a clear line of reasoning
Use evidence to support your reasoning
Evaluate your written speech through critical reading
Take multiple perspectives