Record-Breaking Bike
Determine the main point, idea or lesson in the article AND analyze how the writer develops his point in a specific way for maximum effect.
The article is talking about a bullet-shaped bike that broke the record for the fastest person-powered vehicle, which is the main idea. It was first announced when the author said; “Last September, a strange-looking, bullet-shaped bike broke the record for fastest person-powered vehicle on Earth.” By saying this first the author states what the article will be about. The author, Sara Goudarzi, explains the main point throughout out the text in depth. Saying: “The contraption, named Eta, reached speeds of 137.9 kilometers (85.7 miles) per hour—matching a high speed for a typical car.” She introduced the name of the vehicle, and its speed compared to a typical car, which gives the reader a bigger view to the bike. The author provides the reader with new terms such as, “recumbent bike” illustrating the image of the vehicle to the reader. Then it goes talking about the design of it, and the people associated into the making of the bike, AeroVelo. All over the article the author justifies the main point from structure and construction to the championship and the record of the vehicle. It adds different quotes from people that either worked on it, AeroVelo, or the rider rider at the championship himself, Todd Reichert.
Critique and comment on TWO of the following elements after reading the article. Include your own evaluation of the writer’s strengths and weaknesses in these TWO areas. Use evidence/examples from the text. (Purpose Argument Organization)
Organization: The article is summed up in a logical structure, making the paragraphs shorter thus it makes it easier for the reader to understand. The picture gives a better understanding, and it helps the reader to visualize how the bike looks like. It also grabs the attention of the reader making them curious about what this thing is. The author adds a sub title: “A sleek-looking bike sets the world record for fastest human-powered vehicle,” grabbing the attention of the reader. The article is divided into headlines sorting the ideas of the author, that helped the reader understand the information, rather then it being collided all together. The strength of the article is; although the author has added new terms, but she also defined them giving a better view to the reader. The weakness of the article, that the author should have supplied the reader with more pictures, of the team, records of the bike or of the championships.
Purpose: The purpose of the article is to inform the reader about Eta, a bullet like bike. The purpose is first introduced by the title which clearly displays what the article will be about. The author explains this by saying that it is the fastest human powered vehicle. Sara talks about the structure and design of the bike and also it’s records. She defines new terms that helps the reader understand the article more. She gives the reader a better picture by adding the perspective of the team and people who saw the bike.
What kinds of questions would you ask yourself before determining if any information is reliable? Write down two questions and explain why you would ask them.
I would ask if the website the article has been posted in is well known and reliable? I would want to ask that questions because if the article has been posted on a website that is known, the information might have been checked for a several of times by a couple of people before they post it. Otherwise if it has been published on a personal blog, it might have some false information or some opinions.
Does the author of the article has a background on what they are talking about? This is a question I would normally ask after reading anything. Because if the author does really have a background they would know what they are talking about and their information will be reliable. But if the writer does not know what they are talking about they might have some false information.
Determine if this article is a reliable or unreliable source. Give three detailed reasons to support your point of view.
Yes, I do believe that this article is a reliable source. The first reason being that it was posted on a web page that are specialized in these type of stuff, which is science and technology. Second, the article has many explanation and evidence about the bike. It also has many different view and quotes of people that associated into the making of the vehicle. Lastly, because it has been posted recently, which means that the information and the data gathered are still the latest about this topic.
