Search Engines
Search engines, like Google and Bing, give you access to everything that is on the web--the good, the bad, and the ugly. If you want to narrow your search results to resources that are generally more reliable, use the advanced search feature for the search engine. Using Google Advanced Search, you can generally designate which types of websites you want to limit your search to by specifying the domain(s) (website extensions) you'd like to search. For example, the domains of .gov or .edu.
Examples:
"school vouchers"
"campaign finance reform"
Evaluating Websites
The quality of the information you find on the Web varies tremendously so it is always a good idea to check the information against another source. As with all information resources, whether in print or on the Internet, you evaluate its quality based on the following criteria:
- Accuracy (Is it free from mistakes and errors?)
- Authority (What are the qualifications of the author?)
- Objectivity (Is there any strong bias?)
- Currency (Is the information up to date?)
- Coverage (To what extent is the topic explored?)
That's just the basics. Learn more!
Tutorials on Evaluation Criteria
CRAAP Test (CSU Chico)
Selected Websites
Browse these websites for ideas:
"Promoting critical thinking, education, and informed citizenship by presenting controversial issues in a straightforward, nonpartisan, primarily pro-con format." Many topics feature a Video Gallery, which includes news clips from such television news shows as 60 Minutes, Fox News, and CNN.
Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research does not take policy positions.
Video Websites (free)
Television News:
C-SPAN C-SPAN is a public service created by the American Cable Television Industry. Part of its mission is "to provide C-SPAN's audience access to the live gavel-to-gavel proceedings of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, and to other forums where public policy is discussed, debated and decided––all without editing, commentary or analysis and with a balanced presentation of points of view." Click on "Series" to access news programs.
PBS Click on "Topic/News & Public Affairs" or "Programs" for specific news programs.
Hulu Click on the genre "News & Information" and find programs such as 20/20, Charlie Rose, and Nightline, or the genre "Networks."
Television Commercials:
YouTube YouTube is perhaps the best online source for commercials. Try combining your search terms with the following words in the YouTube search box:
commercial
ad
advert
advertisement
Examples:
"cyberbullying" commercial
"prescription drugs" ad
The Living Room Candidate: Presidential Campaign Commericals 1952-2012 (Museum of the Moving Image)
