Final

Morgan McIntosh

Professor Ruth Benander

English Composition 1001

21 January 2018

Evaluating Sources

How does one know if a source is credible? When researching a topic with intent to write about it, it is important to know the difference between credible and non-credible sources. The source that I plan on evaluating is a website developed by an Earth Science team at NASA: NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Earth Science Communications Team. “Climate Change Causes: A Blanket around the Earth.” Edited by Holly Shaftel, NASA, NASA, 10 Aug. 2017, climate.nasa.gov/causes. The article thoroughly discusses the topic of climate change.

Climate change is highly discussed and controversial. The subject typically generates a great deal of discussion during elections and other political events; often becoming influential in determining which candidate a voter will select on their ballot. Climate change is a topic of importance and interest in not only the United States, but all around the world. It is a Global issue affecting all people, animals, and the planet as a whole. Currently, the state of the Earth’s environment is in an increasingly poor condition. The climate has always been subject to change, however, being the victim of constant pollution and abuse in recent decades, the planet has been experiencing extreme shifts in temperature and weather. Often referred to as “global warming”, the term, climate change, also encompasses states of extreme cold and increased occurrences of natural disasters (i.e. hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, etc.). These weather phenomenons have wreaked havoc in numerous cities within recent years.

It is important that, as citizens of the world, the human race begins to take steps to better the current state of our environment. As I research climate change, I intend to look into the effects climate change imposes upon the overall environment, the wellbeing of the animal kingdom and food chain, and public health. I also plan to explore how this issue has been dealt with from a political standpoint; exploring legislature regarding climate change, opinions of those in office, and previous and current government plans to improve the situation. Through my research I wish to collect information regarding all of these viewpoints in order to gain a better understanding of the many aspects of climate change.

The source, included in a previous paragraph, would be immensely useful in writing a research report on the matter of climate change. The website, created and maintained by NASA, provides information dealing with evidence of climate change, causes and effects, warning signs, and a scientific consensus on the topic. In an informative essay I would include helpful background information, similar to, “Just in the last 650,000 years there have been seven cycles of glacial advance and retreat, with the abrupt end of the last ice age about 7,000 years ago marking the beginning of the modern climate era — and of human civilization,” (NASA), in order to provide the reader with basic knowledge about the nature of changes in climate. The article also expands upon relevant causes such as the “greenhouse effect” which refers to “warming that results when the atmosphere traps heat radiating from Earth toward space,”(NASA) and the actions of humans, as supported in the statement, “The current warming trend is of particular significance because most of it is extremely likely (greater than 95 percent probability) to be the result of human activity”(NASA). The information provided within this article would be helpful in supporting the existence of climate change, as well as allowing a writer to provide examples of why and how climate change has come about.

In addition to applicable information, the source is also extremely credible. The article is part of a .gov website, was written recently, and is continuously updated. In fact, it was updated on 18 January 2018, which ensures that the information included is relevant and up-to-date. The authors and editor of the website are members of NASA’s Earth Science Communications Team in the Jet Propulsion Laboratory; meaning they are all qualified professionals, highly educated in the discipline or field. Furthermore, there are several other valid sources listed as support for the claims presented in the writing. The resources included originate from several published scientists and researchers, as well as relevant organizations dealing with Earth and its environment. Throughout the website, there are no spelling or grammar errors, and the language is professional, using vocabulary related to the subject.

In contrast to credible sources, there are plenty of unreliable websites on the internet that should never be used as sources of information when writing a report. An example of this would be the blog posts on the website Skeptical Science: Explaining Climate Change Science & Rebutting Global Warming Misinformation.” Skeptical Science, © Copyright 2018 John Cook, www.skepticalscience.com/'. On this website, there are several blog-style postings regarding climate change and the skepticism and doubt surrounding the topic. The author poses a large amount of questions and allows readers to comment on the posts. The site is essentially dedicated to discrediting skepticism toward global warming. Although these posts may contain factual information, the statements are not presented in a credible form, nor are there other reliable resources listed that support the claims. Moreover, the website uses a .com URL, which increases the probability of bias, and allows for a greater amount of influence from outside parties. Although the posts are recent, there are several errors in grammar and spelling, as well as incorrect use of climate change related vocabulary. Overall, while the ideas are relevant to the subject in question, the information within this source can not be validated, and therefore, should not be used as the basis for an informative, factually oriented, piece of writing.

As a whole, climate change is a broad topic allowing for vast exploration in multiple related fields. While researching, it is important to validate sources and ensure that the facts included in any type of writing are relevant and credible. In doing so, pieces written on the topic or climate change, or any other topic will successfully inform readers and possibly expand upon what is known within that particular field of research.

Works Cited

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Earth Science Communications Team. “Climate Change Causes: A Blanket around the Earth.” Edited by Holly Shaftel, NASA, NASA, 10 Aug. 2017, climate.nasa.gov/causes.