Question

Read the following excerpt from the article "What a Bad Flu Season Could Cost the US Economy":

Creating a flu vaccine is a bit of a guessing game, because the shots take months to manufacture. Each year in February, the World Health Organization (WHO) tries to predict what viruses may be circulating the following winter, a process that can change as bugs mutate. The current variant strains weren't detected until March and weren't found in large numbers before September, CDC Director Tom Frieden told reporters last week. "This is not something that's been around before," he said.
Based on the cues you can see in the excerpt (that is, without doing further research), how would you rate credibility of the passage? Write a short argument stating whether or not the information seems credible and objective. You are writing an argument, so be sure to include a thesis statement and at least one counter-argument. Use specific details from the passage to support your answer.

Answer 1

I'd say the passage is credible; it gives quotes from a credible person and they're information comes from WHO and the CDC.

Answer 2

I think that the credibility of the passage, especially of the information given, is high, since it is being supported by the words delivered by a credible source, or an authority, on the matter (e.g Tom Frieden, Director of the CDC). Also, since what is being said, is more of an informational nature, explaining how the fight against the flu virus goes, and how difficult it is to stop it, it is enough to know that it has been said by an authority, a person who knows about the matter. However, this passage could also be enriched by adding a little bit of data, or further background information.