Researching+and+Evaluating+Websites

//Why is it critical to conduct thorough research before taking action?// //Why is important to look at differing viewpoints on an issue before taking action?//
 * KEY QUESTIONS **

**OBJECTIVES** //By the end of this lesson, students will be able to://
 * //Differentiate between reliable and unreliable sources//
 * //Collect research from reliable sources to use in the research of their appropriate objective and focus issue//
 * //Distinguish between different types of sources (i.e., first-hand interviews, articles, websites, studies, etc.) and describe the importance of having varied sources//

__**Do Now**:__
 * Define the words "source," "bias," and "reliable."
 * Why is it important for resources to be reliable?

Record the answers on page 37 of your Generation Citizen workbooks.

Use of the internet opens up a virtually limitless amount of research and resource opportunity. It also creates a number of potential pitfalls, most notably the possible distractions and misinformation available on the web.

__**Activity 1 - Exploring Two Popular Websites**__
 * Look at the following two websites.

Website #1

Website #2

__**Activity 2 - Thinking Critically about Websites**__ When you have looked through these websites answer the following questions in the Word document below. Email your work to me at __**msenoksen@gmail.com**__ when you are finished!



Here is a great brief guide to internet researching that helps you research in an efficient manner, as well as evaluate sources. It comes from the University of California, Berkeley: Internet Research Guide for the full description of the checklist items go to Evaluating Web Pages

__**Activity 3 - Evaluate a website**__ You are going to evaluate a popular website that has gone viral on the internet a couple months ago, Invisible Children.

//From their website: KONY 2012 is a film and campaign by Invisible Children that aims to make Joseph Kony famous, not to celebrate him, but to raise support for his arrest and set a precedent for international justice.//

Before you donate money to this cause or sign their pledge, you need to think critically about what they are asking you to do and what their agenda is. You need to do some research on this website and what is going on in the world.

//**TASK: You will investigate the following website:**//

Invisible Children

Look around on this website and on the internet to try to verify the claims stated on this website. Record your answers on pages 38-39 in your Generation Citizen workbooks. [|Reliable Sources Page 38.doc]

__**Activity 4 - Share and Debrief**__ Share your findings with your group. What did you discover about this website and this company? What do you think about the video now? Does this change your mind about helping the cause of the invisible children? Why or why not?

__**Exit Ticket - Page 55** **- Day 1 Question**__
//What is a reliable source where you often get information? What makes it reliable?//