About this trail:
This is an example of what a student will do when compiling his or her list. This imaginary student has chosen to write about bike riding. His/her initial research led to sites about the risks of vehicular exhaust and the health benefits of bike riding. This gave the student the idea to argue that bike riding is better than driving.
The following is the beginning of their trail. Rather than read through and comment extensively on all of the sites-- and essentially write a real research paper on the topic--I have used the comment box to state how the student would use it for their project.
The following is the beginning of their trail. Rather than read through and comment extensively on all of the sites-- and essentially write a real research paper on the topic--I have used the comment box to state how the student would use it for their project.
Trail link: http://www.trailfire.com/jtrieb01/trails/47226
Summary: http://www.trailfire.com/jtrieb01/trailview/47226
Summary: http://www.trailfire.com/jtrieb01/trailview/47226
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1
If a student wanted to write to persuade people to ride their bikes to work instead of driving or taking the bus, this site would be a good starting point for their trail. It has a lot of general information about the impact of vehicle emissions on our health and the environment.
In this comment box, the student would summarize the site content, identify and analyze the arguments made, evaluate and explain the usefulness of the site for my purposes.
In this comment box, the student would summarize the site content, identify and analyze the arguments made, evaluate and explain the usefulness of the site for my purposes.
2
This would also be a good site to add to the trail, as it discusses the various benefits of cycling. Not only that, it refers to some of the ideas that a resistant audience would likely believe, such as bike-riding taking longer than driving.
The student would use this box to synthesize information from this and the sites before it on the trail ("Cars have a negative impact on our health, whereas bike riding improves it," etc.), as well as doing all of the steps already discussed.
The student would use this box to synthesize information from this and the sites before it on the trail ("Cars have a negative impact on our health, whereas bike riding improves it," etc.), as well as doing all of the steps already discussed.
3
Another fine site for this student's trail. The student should continue to synthesize and make connections between sites along the trail. Now our student has health, environmental, and financial information in support of his/her argument.
4
Is there an obvious bias here? Can this site still be useful if it is determined to be biased?
Here the student will have to compare the information from this site and that of the previous one. Are there discrepancies? Is one site more trustworthy than the other, or do they both have an agenda?
One benefit of having trails is that you don't have to hunt down a site you've already seen, because you already have it on your trail. If the student later finds another source of information regarding the costs of driving a car versus riding a bike, he can simply add it to the trail and return to these two pages to check for consistency.
Here the student will have to compare the information from this site and that of the previous one. Are there discrepancies? Is one site more trustworthy than the other, or do they both have an agenda?
One benefit of having trails is that you don't have to hunt down a site you've already seen, because you already have it on your trail. If the student later finds another source of information regarding the costs of driving a car versus riding a bike, he can simply add it to the trail and return to these two pages to check for consistency.
5
Here is a blog post that supports the argument that bike riding is safer than driving a car. The next site on the trail will take an opposing view...
6
A possible counterargument to the previous site on the trail. Biking is dangerous mainly because of drivers and poor road maintenance. Trailfire allows the student to organize his resources so that s/he can quickly compare, constrast, and evaluate opposing viewpoints.
Of course, there is always the constant question of reliability. This article is recent and from a reputable newspaper, so it is probably safe. The student will also include sites along the trail that are not reliable and explain why they are not reliable.
Of course, there is always the constant question of reliability. This article is recent and from a reputable newspaper, so it is probably safe. The student will also include sites along the trail that are not reliable and explain why they are not reliable.
