Internet Exercises

If you are unfamiliar with the World Wide Web, see Using the Internet for some suggestions on how to judge the quality or reliability of information on any website.

Directions: For this assignment, explore the websites below. Select one website that seems most interesting to you, and answer the questions at the end of the list. If you would like to look at relevant websites that are not on this list, please see instructions for that alternative below.

Reading One, Chapter Two: What Is on the Web?

The following websites are examples of those discussed in the reading.

Orchids

All About Orchids
The Orchid Conservatory

Chemicals

The Chemistry Store
American Chemistry Council

Medical Information

DrugInfoNet
Ask Dr. Weil

The following websites were specifically mentioned in the reading.

The National Gallery of London
The Classical Music MIDI Page
Consumer Information Center
Project Gutenberg
New York Times
Sports Illustrated
News.com
University of California Online Catalog
Gerber Website
GTE SuperPages
Amazon.com
Northern Light

Reading Two, Chapter Two:The Yellow Ribbon

This website gives some background on the popular song referred to in the introduction to this reading.

"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree"

This website offers some information on the author of this short story.

Columbia Journalism Review website

Reading Three, Chapter Two:A Whale of a Survival Problem

Oceanlight.com
National Aquarium of Baltimore
The Marine Mammal Center
Whale Watching Web

Option:

As an alternative, you may do a search for other relevant websites that address these topics. If you choose this option, be sure to note which websites you used by answering the following questions:

1. What is the URL or address for this site?

2. Who created the site? (This may be an individual, an organization, or an institution. For some websites, it's difficult to determine who is responsible for the content. If that is the case for the website you looked at, indicate that here.)

Questions for Evaluating Website

Describe the website.

1. What do you think is the main purpose of this site?
a. Education
b. Entertainment
c. Commercial
d. Research

2. How effective, or useful, is this site, in your opinion?
a. Very effective
b. Somewhat effective
c. A little bit effective
c. Not very effective
d. Not at all effective

3. If you think it is useful, what elements does it have to make it a good website? (Select as many answers as apply.)
a. Easy to read
b. Clear information
c. A crebible source
d. No errors in the text
e. I didn't have to wait very long for the site to come up on my computer.
f. The text is easy to read and it doesn't make my eyes tired.
g. I didn't get lost when I followed links.

React to the content of the website.

4. Why did you choose this site to explore? (Select as many answers as apply.)
a. The title sounded interesting.
b. I looked at the homepage and it looked interesting.
c. I am particularly interested in this topic.
d. Other: (fill in the blank)

5. Did you obtain the information you expected to find?
a. Yes, I found what I was looking for.
b. Yes, but I found only a little bit of what I wanted.
c. No, I didn't find anything I was expecting.
d. No, but it was better than I thought it would be.

6. Would you recommend this site to your classmates or friends?
a. Yes, I think other people would find the website useful
b. Yes, but only to people who are interested in this subject.
c. No, it wouldn't be interesting or useful to anyone I know.
d. No, but I might return to look at it again.

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