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Finding and Evaluating Non-Fiction
Web Resources
This activity guides you in making efficient and effective use of Web
Resources. The Web is enormous. If we don’t use effective search techniques
when looking for information, we often end up lost in very long “hit lists”. 
As a result, it takes forever to find the exact information that we need. 
The purpose of the first part of this activity is to help you learn how to 
narrow your searches.
RULE #1: Narrow your topic!

What was happening in the Ukraine during the Holocaust?
What was the Einsatzgruppen?
Who was Paul Blobel?

 Together we will practice narrowing searches using Google.
A. A most unrefined search: Holocaust
B. Somewhat more refined: Holocaust Ukraine
C. More refined: Holocaust Ukraine Einsatzgruppen
D. Most refined: Holocaust Ukraine Einsatzgruppen "Paul Blobel"

 
RULE #2: Know what you are looking for and scan for it. Don't wasted your time with the information that you don't need! 
Look at the list that Google generated. One of the first hits is called, "Jewish Holocast in Ukraine." Click on that link.

Scan in order to find this information quickly:
1. Who is the author of the page, "Jewish Holocaust in Ukraine"?
2. When did the German Army sweep east into the Ukraine?
3. About how many Jews perished in Ukraine that year?
4. What was the Einsatzgruppen?
5. What was Paul Blobel's role?
6. What eventually happened to Paul Blobel?
RULE #3 Evaluate your source. Is the author / organization credible?
What is the author's purpose? What do others think of this source?

How do we know that this information is accurate? Let’s find out about the author. In order to do this we need to get to the title page of the document. 
Notice that we are on page 25 of 29.

Look at the URL Address: http://www.infoukes.com/history/ww2/page-25.html

 
       Often, we can gain information about a site author by “backing out”.

In the URL Address: rectangle, highlight  page-25.html and then hit the backspace.

         Now the URL should look like this: http://www.infoukes.com/history/ww2/

When you reach the title page for the 29-page document, scroll down to the bottom of the page.

7. What library system does Andrew Gregorovich work for and what is his title?

8. What professional organizations does he belong to?

 9. What do you think was Gregorovich’s purpose for writing World War II in Ukraine? 

  10. What professional organization has designated his contribution as a “Best of the Net”?

  11. In general, does this seem to be a trustworthy source?

Maintained according to Mohonasen Central School District Web Publishing Regulations by Kathryn A. Verzoni, Coordinator for Staff Development/Technology Integration, Mohonasen Central School District, 2070 Curry Road, Schenectady, NY 12303  (518) 356-8365 © 2001 Mohonasen Central School District--All Rights Reserved Last Updated 02/06/2007