Website Evaluation

Task

You will be working in groups of four to evaluate a group of Web pages on the topic of tobacco and smoking or cloning. Each of you will be examining sites from a different perspective. You will be ranking the sites and comparing your rankings with the rest of the class.

Your group will evaluate the 3 of the 6 selected Web sites. Divide your group into the following four specialties to cover ground more efficiently:

1. content specialist
2. authority/credibility specialist
3. bias/purpose specialist
4. usability/design specialist

• Each student in the group should complete his/her own organizer through the perspective they are assigned.
• As you examine each site, record any relevant information in your chart/organizer. Begin to rank the sites 1 through 5, with 1 being the best. It may be easier to think to yourself, "Which is the best site in the set; which is the worst?"
• Be prepared to discuss/compare your group's findings and rankings with the rest of the class.

Cloning Websites

1. http://www.humancloning.org/
2. http://www.aynrand.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=8018&news_iv_ctrl=1021
3. http://www.eurekascience.com/ICanDoThat/cloning.htm
4. http://www7.nationalacademies.org/cosepup/Human_Cloning.html
5. http://www.roslin.ac.uk/
6. http://www.geocities.com/americansforcloningelvis/

Smoking and Tabacco Websites:

1. http://www.no-smoke.org/
2. http://www.rjrt.com/home.asp
3. http://www.who.int/tobacco/en/
4. http://www.forces.org/evidence/pharma/index.htm
5. http://www.costkids.org/
6. http://tobaccofreekids.org/

Reminder

You will find yourself using the Internet for information. The Internet is only one of a variety of information options. Remember that journals, books, videos and other sources are available as well. Evaluating information is a skill you will be using throughout your lifetime.

(Huge thanks to Springfield Township High School & Joyce Valenza for the lesson ideas!)