Carolyn Williams

June14, 2000

Grassian

Summary of Esther Grassian's Pieces

On World Wide Web Resources

Esther Grassian of the UCLA College Library has completed a series of articles focusing on the use of Internet resources.� Her articles contain a series of questions that lead to answers about information found on the web.� Through these questions, she cautions users to be critical of the sources and not to accept the information at face value.� There are many things to consider.

In her questions relating to content and evaluation, she asks questions relating to the author's credentials.� For instance, does the site represent or is it tied to any group?� I have received information on the e-mail that was supposedly from Jack Frost of the United Postal Service about underground organizations using the mail service to transport stolen body parts.� How reliable can this source be?� To my knowledge, there is no United Postal Service so can Mr. Frost's information be proven or considered reliable?

Grassian's section on sources and dates suggests checking the credentials of the author(s) and timeliness of the information.� If Jack Frost said he was Post Master General of the United Postal Service, can this be verified?� Also, the articles should be up to date.� This also includes their links.� Sometimes articles can lead you to links that may have been discontinued or the information is out dated.�

The structure of the site is important.� How easily can the information be access?� Grassian suggests that a "reasonable number of links (preferably 3 or few clicks)."� The information included in the links should be related to the original topic matter.

After spending some time on the Internet, I find it wise to follow Grassian�s suggestions.� The World Wide Web is full of information, but how much of this information is reliable?� We just have to be critical users of the web and learn to subtract fact from fiction.

Works Cited

Grassian, Esther. "Thinking Critically about Discipline-Based World Wide Web Resources." UCLA  College Library. Last updated 10 Nov. 1998.   <http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/college/instruct/web/discp.htm>.

Grassian, Esther. "Thinking Critically about World Wide Web Resources." UCLA College Library. Last updated 14 Jan. 1999. <http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/college/instruct/web/critical.htm>.

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