Question

You're collecting sources to write a research paper on the city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, and you come

across this travel blog on the internet:
Amsterdam
from the blog of Rebecca Crow, a travel writer
Though Amsterdam lives up to its reputation as a "party place," there is more to it than coffee shops and
nightlife. Amsterdam is a history lover's paradisel Settled in the late thirteenth century, Amsterdam is full of
historic museums, churches, and parks. Being a travel enthusiast, I took out time from my busy schedule to
explore the fascinating corners of this multicultural city. If you are in Amsterdam, then you definitely should visit
its renowned museums, such as the Stedelijik Museum, Amsterdam Historisch Museum, and the Rijksmuseum.
Near the city center is the house where Anne Frank and her family lived while hiding from the Nazis during
World War II. The house has been converted into a renowned museum, which is worth a visit! Also, make sure to
take a walk along the canals of Amsterdam. They are not only beautiful but also have a historic significance,
dating back to the seventeenth century.
Explain whether or not the blog is a credible source and whether or not it is relevant to your research paper. Use
details from the passage to support your answer.

Answer 1

The content of Rebecca Crow’s blog is relevant to my research paper on the city of Amsterdam. Although blogs aren’t always sources of credible information, Rebecca Crow is a travel writer, so her job is to post about locations to visit. She conveys historical, cultural, and geographical facts about the city in a friendly tone.

In her opening sentence, she distinguishes opinions from facts. She punctuates “party place” in quotation marks and acknowledges that Amsterdam has more to offer than just leisure activities. I cross-referenced her details about Amsterdam, including its museums, and all her facts checked out. Her blog has given me good additional keywords to research as I continue to learn more about the city.

Step-by-step explanation:

Edmentum answer :)

Answer 2

This blog post is not a credible source for a research paper, but that does not mean that it is not relevant.

The sources you use for a research essay should be factual. If you are quoting a written work with the intent of making it come across as true (for example to support your argument), it needs to be a credible piece of literature, like an article from an academic journal for example. The problem with this travel blog is that it is opinion more than fact. It is a narrative of what the author experienced and what her take on it is:

• "a history lover's paradise;"
• "fascinating corners;"
• "worth a visit;"
• "beautiful."

There is usually no rule banning the quoting of opinion pieces in research papers, however. For example, if you are writing about a political issue, you can compare speeches by representatives of both sides of the debate. The use you could make of this blog is to use it as inspiration for further research, because it does mention some monuments and places that you might want to include in your presentation of Amsterdam:

• "historic museums, churches, and parks;"
• "the Stedelijik Museum, Amsterdam Historisch Museum, and the Rijksmuseum;"
• "the house where Anne Frank and her family lived."