Wikipedia Step 4

Question:

Does methane cause more warming than CO2?

Answer:

Molecule for molecule, methane is much more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere. And that's just part of the trouble.  "Methane is much more complicated once it gets into the atmosphere than something like carbon dioxide is," Shindell says, "and that's because it reacts with a lot of different important chemicals."

Source

Harris, Richard. National Public Radio. Methane Causes Vicious Cycle in Global Warming. (January 2010). Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122638800

Link

Web Page Evaluation:

Name of Page: National Public Radio

URL: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122638800

Date Accessed: June 2, 2013

How did you find the web page? Google search

Domain: .org  I trust this domain because it is an organization, not just a web page that anyone can create

Author of page: Richard Harris

Is the individual associated with any organization?  Does the author have any credentials?  Yes, the author is an award winning journalist who has been a correspondent for NPR since 1986.  He has traveled the world, and received some of journalism and science's most prestigious awards.

Contact information: No, I could not find any contact information about him on the web page

What is the purpose of the page?  To inform the reader.  The author is not trying to persuade the audience, he is simply presenting facts.

Are there ads on the page? The ads are all for NPR related information

Who is the intended audience? The public

When was the page last updated? January 26, 2010

Is the author authenticated? Yes, throughout the article their are quotes from NASA affiliate Drew Shindell and the University of Edinburgh

Is this source appropriate?  Yes, this is a source I would trust and recommend

Was the answer in Wikipedia accurate? How does this influence your perception of Wikipedia as a resource for learning in school?

 

No, the answer in Wikipedia was not accurate.  They downplayed the role of methane in the warming of the earth, when actually, it plays a significant role.  This tells me that I, and my students, need to be skeptical when using Wikipedia as a resource.  We should verify information from other reliable sources.