I-Search

Compare Sources

One of the best ways to evaluate the content of a source is to compare its content with another source on the same topic. By comparing two or more sources, you can, in a relatively short period of time, identify the areas that strongly contrast each other and identify potential inaccuracies or bias.

Activity Instructions

1. Examine the sources of one topic listed below.
2. Identify information or elements that are similar. Do these similarities lead you to believe they are credible sources? Why or Why not?
3. Now identify information or elements that are different. How do these differences inform you on the quality or credibility of the sources?
4. If you were seeking information about this topic, how could you use each source to establish or increase your knowledge about the topic or apply this information to a project?

Steroids Same Sex Marriage Terrorism

Steroids

"Are Steroids Worth the Risk?" From TeensHealth by Nemours
Monday, September 6, 2007 Anabolic steroids on ESPN.com
Green, Gary A. MD; Uryasz, Frank D. MBA; Petr, Todd A. MBA; Bray, Corey D. MS. "Clinical Investigations NCAA Study of Substance Use and Abuse Habits of College Student-Athletes" Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine January 2001Vol 11, Issue 1, pp. 51-56

Same Sex Marriage

Bush, George W. "President's Radio Address" July 10, 2004

"The case for gay marriage." The Economist. February 28 2004 vol. 370 issue 8364 p9. (login required)

Henry, P. J., and Christine Reyna. "Value Judgments: The Impact of Perceived Value Violations on American Political Attitudes." Political Psychology vol. 28, issue 3, 2007 pp. 273-298. (login required)

Terrorism

Rumsfeld, Donald. "There Can Be No Moderate Solutions to Extremism" Financial Times August 1 2005 Redistributed by America.gov (U.S. Department of State)

Roberts, Paul Craig. "The War on Terror is a Hoax Written" Muslim Public Affairs Center

Masci, David & Jost, Kenneth, October 12 2001. War on terrorism. CQ Researcher, vol. 11, pp. 817-848. (login required)

 

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Original I-Search ©2005 by Illinois State University's Milner Library. I-Search is based upon Searchpath
© by the Board of Trustees of Western Michigan University which incorporates material from TILT, a tutorial developed by the Digital Information Literacy Office for the University of Texas System Digital Library, ©1998-2004. This material may be reproduced, distributed, or incorporated only subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Searchpath Open Publication License.