unit 9

The search engine that I am using is Google and the topic I am researching is Ayn Rand. Search one ayn rand site:.gov Library of Congress The Thoughts of Ayn Rand Library Receives Collection of Author's Handwritten Essays May 2003 6-20-2012 http://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/0305/random.html This site is credible because of the authority, Library of Congress and the purpose, to describe a new collection of writings by Ayn Rand in a neutral way. ayn rand site:.com The Ayn Rand Lexicon: Objectivism from A to Z Wednesday, June 20, 2012 http://aynrandlexicon.com/ This site is not very likely to be credible especially when it comes to a controversial topic like Ayn Rand. The editor of the book that the website promotes was a long time friend of Rand and therefore he may not be able to present an unbiased viewpoint. ayn rand site:.edu Ayn Rand on the Virtue of Selfishness Tuesday, February 10, 1998 http://brindedcow.umd.edu/140/rand.html © copyright Allen Stairs, 1997 This site appears to be that of a college student who has posted an assignment on Ayn Rand. He argues against many of the ideals that Rand was known for. For this reason, I believe this site is not credible. Also, the author provides no citations, no links to sources. ayn rand site:.org Ayn Rand Institute http://www.aynrand.org/site/PageServer?pagename=index The Ayn Rand Institute is considered to be the foremost authority on all things AR. And they do have an enormous collection of writings and links to her work as well as the work of others in Objectivism, the philosophy founded on AR's principles. The site does however only publish information that serves it's purpose of promoting the works of AR. No contrary viewpoints are to be found. I think that it is valuable to be able to search for specific top level domains. I found that the only results I felt were trustworthy were the .gov sites. This would make Ayn Rand roll over in her grave! The sites that I found within the other searches seemed to be far more likely to have the purpose of trying to sway opinion one way or another. If I were really researching a topic, I would try all of them top level domains to see what sort of results I could get.