Establishing Credibility
Review “Evaluating Web Resources: Evaluating Blogs” for a brief overview of the signs of blog credibility.
Visit LinkedIn. If you already have a LinkedIn account, sign in to your account. If you do not yet have a LinkedIn account, sign up for one, so you can access LinkedIn profiles.
Search for an individual you may know (for example, a colleague, coworker, or classmate), and review his or her profile.
Write a 700- to 875-word analysis paper that addresses the following questions based on the two sites you reviewed:
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What is the goal of the blog site? What is the goal of the LinkedIn profile?
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Who is the author of each site or profile page? What are his or her professional qualifications?
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Describe the content from the blog and the LinkedIn profile, summarizing what you learned about each individual.
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Was one individual more credible than the other? If so, in what ways?
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Would you share the content or credentials of each individual with others as credible sources? How are value, power, and social capital created in each platform?
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Do you feel the blogger and the LinkedIn individual’s profiles were credible and authentic? Explain your response.
SAMPLE ASSIGNMENT