Reading Plus Standard 8A:Reasoning and Rhetoric: Judging Val

Reading Plus Standard 8A:Reasoning and Rhetoric:

Judging Validity

Multiple Choice

► Look at each set of excerpts, then decide which one is considered a valid source and which one is not.

Which website is a valid source?

A. The population of the state of Vermont declined to 624,594 in 2016, which means it has one of the smallest state populations in the country. The median age of Vermont residents is 42.7 years old.

Source: www.census.gov, the website of the U.S. Census Bureau, which is the leading source of statistical information about the United States.

B. Creatures from Neptune landed on Earth about 500 years ago. They changed their appearance so they could blend in with Earthlings. Some of these creatures sailed with Christopher Columbus as he explored the New World. In fact, Neptune Beach, Florida, was named in honor of these space travelers.

Source: www.reallyranders.com, a satirical website created by an anonymous writer

• Website A

• Website B

Open Ended

Why is this website likely to be a valid source?

Multiple Choice

Which book article is a valid source?

A. “Tips on How to Stay Healthy,” a book written by a medical doctor who has 30 years of experience caring for patients, and who has written many awarding-winning books about health and nutrition that have been praised by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

B. “Tips on How to Stay Healthy,” a book written by someone who has learned about healthcare from Internet websites, but has no formal training in Western or Eastern medicine. This book received a “thumbs up” from the author’s mother and his publisher.

• Article A

• Article B

Open Ended

Why is this book likely to be a valid source?

Multiple Choice

Which newspaper article is a valid source?

A. Headline: Manmade satellite discovers new life form on distant planet. The newspaper article appears in a periodical with limited distribution, does not include a byline, includes numerous unattributed quotes, and relies on science fiction authors as sources of information about space travel.

B. Headline: First manmade satellite reaches the edge of our solar system. The newspaper article appears in a major national periodical, was written by a journalist who has covered space exploration for more than a decade, includes named sources, and has multiple direct quotes from NASA scientists. Which newspaper article is a valid source?

• Newspaper Article A

• Newspaper Article B