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Evaluating Websites for Essay Sources: Should I use .com, .org, .gov or .edu?

In this 4-week course, students learn which online sources to use (.org, .gov, and .edu) and which to avoid (.com). Students will evaluate author qualifications and determine if the source is current, credible, correct, and unbiased.
Janelle Fila
Average rating:
4.6
Number of reviews:
(903)
Star Educator
Class

What's included

4 pre-recorded lessons
4 weeks
of teacher support
1 year access
to the content
Homework
1-2 hours per week. Students will have access to videos over the pros and cons of a certain type of source. There are activities the students will do to show their understanding of the topic. At the end of the lesson, there is a Kahoot! quiz for further practice and review of the week's topics.
Assessment
The more questions, comments, and posts that students share in the classroom, the more I can understand their knowledge and comprehension of the topics we are discussing.
Grading
Please let me know if you require a grade for this course.

Class Experience

US Grade 7 - 10
Every essay needs sources, but students often are unsure of where to go online to find reliable and relevant sources for their subject material. In this course, students will receive a video lesson that explains the pros and cons of different groups of websites (from personal blogs to government-sponsored sites). I will post examples of an incorrect or out of date reference from this target group. I will then ask the students to find a reputable source to replace my outdated or biased reference. Students will evaluate a different aspect, from author qualifications to the source's current relevance, credibility, correctness, and bias. At the end of the lesson, the students will have a review quiz/trivia game to evaluate their understanding of the week's topic. 

Weekly breakdown:
Students will receive a video lesson that explains the pros and cons of using different groups of websites (like personal blogs, non-profit websites, educational institutions and government-sponsored websites). 

I will post an example of an incorrect or out of date reference from this target group. I will then ask the students to find a reputable source to replace my outdated or biased reference. Each day, students will evaluate a different aspect, from author qualifications to the source's current relevance, credibility, correctness, and bias.

I post a link to an optional Kahoot! review quiz that asks trivia questions about the week's lessons. Students can use this extra practice to evaluate their understanding of the weekly and daily topics. Students will take the Kahoot quiz at any time.
Learning Goals
Week One: Websites ending in .com or .net. This can be a personal or company website or blog.
Week Two: Websites ending in .org. These belong to non-profit organizations. 
Week Three: Websites ending in .edu. These belong to educational institutions. 
Week Four: Websites ending in .gov. These belong to government institutions. 
Monday: Students will evaluate author qualifications
Tuesday: Students will evaluate a source's current relevance 
Wednesday: Students will evaluate a source's credibility
Thursday: Students will evaluate if a source is correct
Friday: Students will evaluate if a source is biased or unbiased.
learning goal

Syllabus

4 Lessons
over 4 Weeks
Lesson 1:
Commercial Websites
 Video lesson, activities to evaluate author, relevance, credibility, correctness, and bias, plus an optional Kahoot! review quiz. 
Lesson 2:
Non-profit Organization Websites
 Video lesson, activities to evaluate author, relevance, credibility, correctness, and bias, plus an optional Kahoot! review quiz. 
Lesson 3:
Government Websites
 Video lesson, activities to evaluate author, relevance, credibility, correctness, and bias, plus an optional Kahoot! review quiz. 
Lesson 4:
Educational Websites
 Video lesson, activities to evaluate author, relevance, credibility, correctness, and bias, plus an optional Kahoot! review quiz. 

Other Details

Pre-Requisites
Students should have some experience writing essays and may find it helpful to take my Let's Write a 5 Paragraph Essay Together or Citations classes.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
  • Kahoot
Joined June, 2019
4.6
903reviews
Star Educator
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Master's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from Spalding University
I have a Master's degree in Creative Writing which required my own 30 page extended critical essay. During the past two years, I have tutored many high school and college students about the importance of correct sources, quotes, references and citations. I currently teach English Composition at a local nursing college. Unfortunately, when students do finally choose quotes or data for their essays, they often do it incorrectly because they are confused and overwhelmed by all of their options. My goal is to inform and empower students as much as possible using the information I have gathered and learned over my own teaching career. 

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Self-Paced Course
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$9

weekly or $35 for all content
4 pre-recorded lessons
4 weeks of teacher support
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1 year of access to the content

Completed by 4 learners
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Ages: 12-17

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