Source Type: Informal Web-Article/Wiki.

Focus: Comparative Summary

Part I:

Find an article published on an informal website in the past two years and a corresponding Wiki page. For example, if your website concerned the Democratic caucus in Iowa, your Wiki page could discuss the history of primaries and caucuses in the U.S. You can source your web-article from anywhere, as part of this assignment is to authenticate how verifiable the information is. Cite both of your sources in MLA (TEW or Purdue OWL can help).

Part II:

The following exclusively involves your web article. Write ~50 words per section:

·

Kairos:

How timely and relevant is this article?

·

Audience:

Who, specifically, is this website aimed at? People who will agree with the message, or those who oppose it? How does it work towards influencing its audience?

·

Bias:

In what ways is the site biased towards a certain point of view?

·

Context:

In what context does the article appear? In other words, what does some further reading of the website it was found on tell you about the author and publishers?

Part III:

The following exclusively involves your wiki page. Again, aim for ~50 words per section:

·

Authority:

How does the author assure the reader that the information is accurate? If needed, click through any links, look up citations, or verify important facts. What about their biographical information: is it possible to track down their credentials to see if they are an authority on the subject?

· Bias: What does the author gain from the article? Who is their audience and how can you tell? Are multiple viewpoints presented and addressed, or only the viewpoints of the author?

· Context: Examine the wiki for which the article is written. Is it credible? How does it assure the reader that the content is well-researched? What sort of sources does the website use?

Part IV:

Finally, in ~100 words, reflect on how these two sources work in conversation with each other: what do you gain from reading both of them that would be lost if you only read one?

Submitting:

Submit to Blackboard
and
to me (printed) by 1:15 on 02/04.

Part I: Citations

Web-Article Citation:

Wiki Citation:

Part II: Web-Article Analysis

Part III: Wiki Analysis

Date:

Part IV: Comparative Reflection