Assignment 3

INFO 106

Assignment 3

Portals, the Hidden Web, and Evaluating websites

Part 1  Portals

When you are doing intensive or extensive research on a topic, you may discover that there is one site that is an excellent organizer of information on that specific topic.  These are sometimes referred to as “Portals”. 

Here are a couple of examples: 

1.    General:  http://www.ipl.org

2.    General:  http://infomine.ucr.edu

3.    Library:   http://www.loc.gov  

4.    Library:   http://www.southseattle.edu/library

5.    Specific:  http://guides.lib.washington.edu/history

Use the general portals to see what portals introduce your topic and lead you to much more information.  Briefly report your results.

Part 2  Wikipedia   http://www.wikipedia.com

Wikipedia can serve as a kind of portal, as well as serving as a kind of encyclopedia.  In academia, it remains controversial.  Wikipedia uses a different methodology than what has been the traditional academic model.  Authorship has been of paramount importance in our society.  Wikipedia’s authorship is diffuse and anonymous.  Nevertheless, I frequently rely on
Wikipedia as an introduction to topics. 

           Report on Wikipedia’s treatment of your topic

Part 3 The Hidden Web

The hidden web best refers to that region of the World Wide Web that lies beyond the reach of search engines and behind passwords.  Libraries can provide access to some of the hidden web.  They have budgets and can pay the fees that enable their clientele to access the web.  Other websites might be free to new users but want to separate serious users from others.  They might want you to agree to some conditions for use. 

Here’s one that I belong to by virtue of the fact that I am a self-styled Saab nut:  http://www.saabsunited.com    (I think that they will let most anybody in). 

See if you can find a relevant site on the hidden web.