Research Assignment

It is not a good idea to read, study or cite something on the web and just take the information as true. There are techniques involved that will help you use the web effectively, and wisely. I studied 1 search engine -(Google,) 1 website - ( The Nation,) and 1 blog - (Hendrick Hertzberg,) to apply the techniques suggested by Henderson , and to see how whether or not the information was reliable.

First, I studied the mega search engine Google, to see how reliable the results are and if it should be used instead of going to the library and opening actual research books and periodicals, as well as who they are to then determine accuracy. Hendrson suggests finding out about the author/authors of the product to determine the intent and also to discover if you "are in the right place" for your needs. I easily found a "About" Google page that included their products and corporate information. I then moved on to the web site of the progressive magazine, "The Nation." When you are using a website to gleam information from it, Henderson suggests that you look for a "About the authors link," because it will help to see if the information is reliable, what the authors angle is, his previous writings etc. The Nation does a good job of providing this info - For The Nation's site I didn't see available the link. Henderson also suggests that you pose the question "Does the site include a way to contact the authors?" The Nation didn't have this link on their site.
For Hendrick Hertzberg's blog "Notes on Politics, Mostly," there is an easily accessible link to all his archived writings, which is a technique Henderson suggest as a way to learn if the author is reliable. Although I didn't find a link or way to contact Hertzberg, I believe his work is accurate because of the mere scope of his archived writings that can be seen on the "New Yorker's" site.