How do peer review, vetting, and editing affect the quality of information presented in a book or journal? How can you determine whether information you find online has been through these processes?

How can you determine the credibility of information presented on a Web site? Are there any red flags that immediately make you question a site’s integrity? What characteristics are likely to make you trust an Internet source?

Imagine you have been assigned to speak on a controversial topic. How would you go about choosing potential interviewees? What kinds of questions would you ask your interviewees? How would you use the information gleaned in interviews to bolster your thesis ethically?

Go to the Wikipedia entry for a subject you might like to discuss in a speech. Identify claims that are made without any supporting footnote or citation. How can you determine whether the author of these comments is credible? Next, identify claims that are supported by a footnote or citation. What would you need to do to determine whether the sources for these claims are credible?