Skip to Main Content

Global Citizenry Project: Evaluating Information

Assignment Description

The culminating assignment for this class is a research project in which you will use the semester’s major concepts concerning argumentation and global citizenry and apply them to a researched argument that you make in the form of a rhetorical item. This item can be any object as long as it includes a combination of written and visual rhetoric.

Annotated Bibliography: You must locate at least four sources that influence the construction of your project. You may or may not end up using these specific sources. These may be scholarly articles, news articles, books, other media, interviews, documentaries, etc. You should annotate these entries according to course and basic MLA guidelines.

If you're struggling to find information, use the Need Help tab!

What type of information are you looking for?

BEAM method of research

  • Background: using a source to provide general information to explain the topic.
  • Exhibit: using a source as evidence or examples to analyze.
  • Argument: using a source to engage its argument.
  • Method: using a source’s way of analyzing an issue to apply to your own issue.

For more information about how to use BEAM, check out HCL's resource.

Information Evaluation

You've found a relevant piece of information! Is it right for your paper? Ask yourself these 3 questions:

  1. What? What am I looking at?
    • Is this from a journal, newspaper, book, blog, social media post, magazine, etc?
    • Is it a primary or secondary source?
    • Is it an scholarly (academic) or popular source?
  2. So What? Why is this a good piece of information?
    • Is the author an expert?
    • Is the information current, accurate, credible?
    • Is it biased? What was the motivation or purpose of the person/organization that produced this information.
  3. Now What? How are you going to use this in your paper?
    • Does it fit into the BEAM method?
    • Does it answer one of your research questions?
    • Does it help you make your argument or add to your narrative?