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ESL 51: Composition III - Documented Argument Essay (Alexandria)

Direct comments to aanderson@nvcc.edu

Evaluating Web Sites for Argumentation Papers

1. Go to the website High Fructose Corn Syrup.

What is the name of the organization that publishes this web site? ____________________________________________

Is the information on this page objective or biased? _______________________________________________

How would you use this website in a research paper? ______________________________________________________________________________


 

2. Go to the website Paleo Diet 101

Who is the author of the information on this page?  What can you find out about his credentials? __________________________________________________________________________________

What is the purpose of this website?
________________________________________________________________________

Would you use the information from this website in a research paper? Why or why not?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


 

3. Go to the web page Secondhand Smoke Fact Sheet

Who do you think this article is written for?
_____ Researchers ______ General public ______ Cigarette companies

What organization published this article? ______________________________________

Do you think you can believe what they have to say about smoking? ______________

Why or why not? ____________________________________________________________________________


 

4. Go to the web page Doctors Falsely Claim Guns Are Public Health Crisis

What organization published this article? ___________ What is that organization’s position on gun control issues? _________________________________

How would you use this website in a research paper?
_________________________________________________________________________________________


 

5. FIND A WEB PAGE ON YOUR TOPIC AND EVALUATE IT:

Name of web page on your topic: __________________________________________________

Web page address (URL): _________________________________________________________

Author(if one is listed): ____________________________________________________

Background information on author: _____________________________________________________________________________

Is the author reliable/knowledgeable? ______________________

What is the author’s position on your topic? Pro Con Balanced


 

If a Company/organization publishes the page, what is its name? ________________________________________________________

Does the web site provide information about the organization? _________________

If yes, what does the website tell you about the company? _______________________________________________________________________________

Is this a reliable/knowledgeable publisher? __________________________________

What is this organization’s position on your topic? Pro Con Balanced


 

What do you think is the purpose of the web site?

________ To provide reliable information
________ To sell you something
________ To convince you of something
________ To entertain you
________ Other (Please describe) ________________________________________


 

How current is this web page? __________________ When was it last updated? ____________


 

Is the information on the web site accurate? (Remember, you will need to compare the information you find on the web site with information from other sources known to be reliable.)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


 

Would you use this web page in your research? _____ Yes _____No _____Maybe

Why or why not? ______________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________