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Unit 9: Evaluating the Internet
Lesson 7: Perspective
Consider the perspective or point of view of the website you have accessed. Ask yourself the following questions to determine its point of view.
- Does the site have a point of view? Does the site’s author take a stance or express a strong opinion? Are opinions supported with facts and citations?
- What is the tone of the site? Does the author use emotionally charged or emotionally detached language? Is the tone of the site serious and scholarly?
- Does the site omit any information? Omission of relevant information could indicate that the author has not comprehensively researched the topic, or has a biased point of view.
- Does the author try to be objective? Does the author have an impartial perspective or an opinionated, subjective point of view? Does the information seem one-sided or extreme? Does the author present balanced information from multiple perspectives?
- Is the site linked to or associated with a biased website? Does the sponsoring website have an agenda that could sway the author to take a particular stance? Does the identity of the author or sponsor suggest a conflict of interest? Could the site contain information intended to mislead or misinform because of an agenda?