Website evaluation - Hebrew Poetry - Research Paper Example

? 24 December Website Evaluation – Hebrew Poetry Medievalhebrewpoetry.org The internet is an extremely useful repository of information. However, the credibility and accuracy of information derived from websites is often questionable. This paper evaluates Medievalhebrewpoetry.org, a website providing information on Hebrew Poetry, to ascertain whether the site is a credible resource for research purposes. A. Authority/Source: The domain of the website is ".org", suggesting that the site belongs to an organization, most probably a non-profit organization. The "About" page (http://medievalhebrewpoetry.org/index.html) of the site clearly states its purpose, intended audience and author. According to the description, the site aims at providing information on Hebrew poems and poets to scholars, general readers, librarians, teachers and poetry lovers. However, it is further stated that the site is mainly aimed for general readers and poetry lovers only. The website also provides information about its creator and editor on the "About the Editor of This Site" page (http://medievalhebrewpoetry.org/abouttheauthor.html). The author's professional, publishing and teaching experiences are clearly stated (http://medievalhebrewpoetry.org/resume.html). It is apparent that the information on the site is authentic as its author and editor (Henry Rasof) has several publications to his credit. The site also acknowledges the contributors and publishers who granted permission for use of copyrighted information from journals, books, and other publications. The website also provides the author's email address, which can be used for verifying the site's credibility. The site was initially developed as a project for the author's MA degree; however, the author hopes to expand it further. The site also provides the address of the author for sending feedback (http://medievalhebrewpoetry.org/feedback.html). B. Accuracy: The website mostly compiles information and extracts of copyrighted information from other published sources, most of which are peer reviewed. For instance, an article on Piyyut: Liturgical Poetry has been excerpted from the book, Jewish Liturgy and Its Development (New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1932) authored by A. Z. Idelsohn (http://medievalhebrewpoetry.org/idelsohnchapterfinal.html). Most other articles and poetry have been excerpted from similar publications. Most of the articles have appropriate footnotes and are backed by complete bibliographies for verification of factual information. The information provided thus seems credible. While excerpts of copyrighted information are accompanied with details of the original authors, the sites own articles are also accompanied with sufficient information on the author and his/her credentials. The site uses minimal graphical representations, which if shown, are appropriately labeled. However, their sources are not cited. For instance, a map of "Andalucia: Center of Islamic presence in Spain during the time of the medieval Jewish poets" shown on the site's home page (http://medievalhebrewpoetry.org/index.html) has an appropriate and detailed legend, but its source is not cited. C. Currency: Original articles by the author of the website do not state the date of creation. Therefore, it is difficult to determine when the article was actually written. For instance, the article "Abraham Ibn Ezra and the Metaphors of Imagination" (http://medievalhebrewpoetry.org/abrahamibnezrabiointro.html), originally written by Henry Rasof, the site's author and editor, does not state when the article was created. Since the information is related to historical and literary aspects of Hebrew poetry, the date of creation does not necessarily matter. There is no indication that the site is constantly updated or edited. According to information provided by the site, its articles were last updated on 7th June, 2008, indicating that the site is outdated. The site provides links to external sources and websites. All the links are functional and there are no broken links. However, the links themselves were last updated on 7th June, 2008. Therefore, a lot of progress and scholarly articulation on Hebrew poetry, since 2008, has been missed out by the site. Moreover, some of the articles on the site have been updated back in 2007. D. Objectivity: The website is completely free of advertising, indicating that it is a non-commercial site. The site provides English translation of Hebrew Poems by several poets. It also offers articles detailing Hebrew Poetry. As the subject matter of the site deals with literature, there is no scope for biased opinions. The site lacks bias and only presents factual information. The language used is succinct, eloquent and in sync with the theme of the site. It does not use provocative or derogatory language. The site is clear and forthcoming with regards to its view of the subject. E. Coverage: None of the pages on the site seems to be currently under construction, except for one page (http://medievalhebrewpoetry.org/archives.html) that is meant to provide links to Archives, Organizations and Libraries for offering information on manuscripts, people, and publications on medieval Hebrew poetry. All pages appear complete and are accompanied with bibliography and details of the author. Each page also contains links to other sites and resources for further reading on the topic. It also provides a link to the author's details. The site has many internal links that make navigation easier. Links to other works by the same author are also provided, which is helpful in scholarly research. The website does not have a print equivalent. F. Purpose: The site does not aim at making a political statement or sell a particular product. It aims at educating readers and poetry lovers about medieval Hebrew poetry so that it can be understood and appreciated by both Jews and non-Jews. According to information provided on the site's "About" page, it is devoted to Hebrew Poetry composed during the fourth to the eighteenth century, with emphasis on the "Golden Age of Jewish culture in Spain", in the period between tenth and twelfth century. The emphasis of the presentation is both elementary and scholarly and has a wide range of information. Conclusion It is concluded from the preceding evaluation that the site – Medievalhebrewpoetry.org, has a credible authority and source, provides accurate information, is objective, has a good coverage and a well-charted purpose. However, it is not up-to-date. The site may prove useful for initial research on the subject of Hebrew poetry, as it compiles good factual information and provides a large number of external links to other resources for further reading. It can also be used as a source for research papers, albeit the facts should be confirmed beforehand. Works Cited Rasof, Henry. "Medieval Hebrew Poetry." http://medievalhebrewpoetry.org. 24 Dec. 2011. Web. < http://medievalhebrewpoetry.org/> Read More