Source Evaluation Drug Cartels

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Source Evaluation Finding reliable sources for a research paper at the college level is not easy. College papers are much more demanding for reliable information, versus high school where Wikipedia is sometimes “okay” to use. What must of I think in high school did not realize is, on the web anyone can create a website and post whatever he/she wants. It is important to read and evaluate each source, to make sure reliable information is present, get a better understanding of to use the source, as well as, how multiple sources can be useful together. A research paper requires adequate information pertaining to a subject (in this case Drug Cartels). While evaluating my sources, I was able to read and depict was real, biased and “tweaked” information.…show more content…
I had multiple pages pop up of what was advertised to be reliable. While most did not have the type of information I was particularly looking for, I was able to find one. (Points of View Reference Center) The article reports on the growth of drug violence involving gang members in Mexico in October 2010. According to the article, the drug gang members are controlled by seven drug cartels which transfer drugs into the U.S. and many of this drug-related violence is brought by the fight to control territory. Felipe Calderon, the president of Mexico, also emphasizes that the drug violence in the country would not be stopped as long as the U.S. continues to consume drugs (Points of View Reference Center). Reading through this article I was able to pick out certain pieces of information to build off of. I terms of reliability, I would say the article did have some instances where a quick search was done to check the information given, was quickly disproved by an expert in the field of that particular study (drug cartels/gang). Short interviews though were given to broaden the message the writer wanted to portray in the article. Even though this particular source had some problems with its reliability, among the other web sources that popped up this one hold to true to over more than half of its given information. However, this source would not be the first to go to on its own to write a research paper at a college…show more content…
In the article it reports on the growing violence of drug gangs that are menacing the U.S. - Mexico border. Details of the violent acts of Heriberto Lazcano, how the Mexican government's efforts to stop such activity have failed, people employed by the largest drug cartels, incidents of murder and kidnappings, and the reaction of the president of Mexico Vincente Fox (TIME Magazine). Choosing this source was not hard; TIME has a reputation of reliable information; to withhold this reputation TIME Magazine does not put stories and headlines to spread gossip, rather use their magazine and writers to inform the nation of big events happening near or far away. There is no question that TIME Magazine is one of the most reliable and consistent magazines to read, for the magazines work to distribute story worthy new about past, present and future problems, in a serious and direct manor. The usability of the source for a college level course is the best bet to get information accurately, stray away from gossip and focus on the real issues at
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