Module Searching and Evaluating Credible Sources

Finding credible sources can be difficult, especially with so much information available on the Internet. In this short research assignment, you will be asked to consider what makes some sources credible and others non-credible.

Assessment Directions:

1. To begin this assignment, first define the terms credible and non-credible.

2. Then, choose a general topic from the list below.

3. Find three sources that discuss this topic. Please make sure that one source comes from the ITT Tech Virtual Library, another source comes from a credible Internet site (.edu, .gov, .org), and the last source comes from a non-credible source on the same topic from the Internet at large (blogs, wikis, .com pages).

Topics to choose from:

• Obesity in children
• Low teacher wages
• Electric cars
• Teenage bullying
• Banning smoking in public places
• Existence of aliens
• Spaying and neutering pets
• Prayer in schools
• Prison overcrowding in America
• Health, Food, and Global issues

o Are there risks with genetically engineered foods?
o Is there a connection between poverty and obesity?
o Is it socially responsible to market unhealthy food to children?
o Obesity-genetic, environmental, emotional, or totally avoidable?
o Food-borne illnesses/poisoning-how do we protect ourselves?
o Chemical pesticides-effect on our foods, our bodies.
o Agricultural pollution-should we be concerned?
o Fossil fuels and global warming-is this really dangerous? What can be done to improve the situation?
o Global food crisis-why are some not getting food? What can be done to improve the situation?
o Animal rights/animal abuse-what place do animals have in our society?
o Foreign aid-should the USA assist foreign countries financially or with food/commodities/medicine/medical care before they help their own?
o Should society view addiction as a disease?
o Drug rehabilitation programs in prisons
o Should society be more or less sympathetic to drug addicts? Why?
o Should cigarette smoking be banned?

• Crime and Punishment

o What are the best ways to address domestic violence?
o Are there solutions for addressing gang violence?
o Graffiti-when is it art?
o Juvenile crime-should parents be held responsible?
o Prisoners' rights-should they have any?
o Cybercrimes-how deep do cybercrimes run? How should one be cautious? Are there enough punishments for cyber stalkers?
o Are law enforcement cameras an invasion of privacy?

• Technology

o Are cell phones dangerous?
o The future of the Internet-are the experts right? Should we be worried?
o Plagiarism and images-what constitutes responsible use or words and images?
o Are social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace bad for those who use them?
o The death of the American newspaper and/or magazines-is this something to mourn?
o Does technology make life unnecessarily difficult? How much is too much?

• Ideas and Government

o How has the American Dream changed in the last 60 years (for better or for worse-take a side)?
o Free speech-is it really free?
o Is torture ever acceptable?
o Do we have a throw-away society?
o Who should help the homeless?
o What should we do about the national debt?
o Is anarchy good in theory?
o USA's role as world's police-does this role exist? Is it working? Is it just?
o The image of the USA has become negative. Do you agree with this statement?

• Entertainment, Sports, Art, and Culture

o Male-bashing on TV-are the roles in series such as King of Queens, The Simpsons, Family Guy, and others accurate portrayals of the man of the 21st century?
o Effects of the glorification of sex, violence, machismo, manipulation, or feminism. Narrow this down and focus on a genre of films or an HBO or Showtime miniseries.
o Downloading music or movies from the Internet-when and where does it become illegal?
o Tattoos or body piercings-cultural and ethnic issues
o Should there be federal funding for the arts?
o Should the racing industry be forced to use biofuels?
o Recreational hunting-a necessity or an ethical issue?

• Family, Values, and Work

o Should men get paternity leave from work?
o Should there be a reduction in the marketing of violent toys, games, and entertainment to children?
o Are beauty pageants exploitative? Should parents pressure their kids to participate?
o Drug testing at work
o Unfair policies/practices of a specific company
o Sexual harassment in the workplace-is enough being done?

Note: You may choose another topic, but be sure to discuss it with your instructor before starting work on this assignment.

Once you have these sources, write a paper that addresses the following questions:

1. Describe each source. What is the title? Who is the author? Where is it from? What is the tone?
2. Discuss why or why not this source meets your definitions of credible or non-credible. Use at least one specific example from each source.

3. Discuss why each source would or would not be acceptable in an academic paper.

Submission Requirements:

You are expected to follow a block pattern of organization, where you answer all three areas of the assignment for each source at a time. This pattern of organizing information will ensure that all parts of the assignment are covered, and the reader can clearly see why each source is credible or non-credible.

Submit your response in a Microsoft Word document of the following specifications:

• Font: Arial, point 12, double spaced
• Length: 400-500 words
• Citation Style: APA