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Assignment 1

The assignment focuses on evaluating credible online resources about life with HIV and AIDS, emphasizing the importance of reliable information due to the prevalence of misinformation. Key sources include government websites, academic articles, and reputable news outlets, each providing valuable insights into medical, social, and emotional aspects of living with HIV. The reflection highlights the necessity of verifying source credibility to ensure accurate knowledge dissemination.

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10 views5 pages

Assignment 1

The assignment focuses on evaluating credible online resources about life with HIV and AIDS, emphasizing the importance of reliable information due to the prevalence of misinformation. Key sources include government websites, academic articles, and reputable news outlets, each providing valuable insights into medical, social, and emotional aspects of living with HIV. The reflection highlights the necessity of verifying source credibility to ensure accurate knowledge dissemination.

Uploaded by

bjumphajumpha
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Assignment: Evaluating Online Information and Identifying Credible Resources

University of the People

ENGL 1102-01 - AY2025-T4

Muhammad Safdar (Instructor)

Bernadetta Jumpha

Thursday, 17 April 2025

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Topic: Life with HIV and AIDS

This assignment required me to analyze various online resources. I have chosen a topic on

life with HIV and AIDS, the same topic I used in my discussion assignment, and I will use

the various online resources in providing information about HIV and AIDS survival

experience. My goal was to locate trustworthy reports about HIV and AIDS which would

assist both me and others in comprehending various medical as well as social aspects

alongside emotional consequences. The presence of widespread incorrect HIV information

requires people to use reliable information sources. I checked each source's credibility,

accuracy, and relevance in my evaluation.

1. Health Website: HIV.gov

HIV.gov provides reliable data about HIV prevention along with testing and treatment

protocols because it operates under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

(HIV.gov, 2024). The site maintains reliability since it is supported by the government and

receives ongoing updates with professional medical reviews. The site presents basic

terminology without promotional content that exists only to provide non-commercial

information. The research on HIV begins best with this website as an initial information

source.

2. Academic Journal Article

I found a peer-reviewed study titled Stigma and Discrimination towards People Living with

HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa (Nyblade et al., 2019), published in BMC Public Health. Since

it's written by researchers and reviewed by other experts, it's highly credible. The article

includes data, references, and real-world examples of how stigma affects people with HIV.

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While academic articles can be dense, they're essential for understanding the deeper issues

behind the disease.

3. News Article: BBC News

The BBC article Living with HIV in Africa: Stories of Strength and Hope (BBC News, 2023)

shares personal stories from people in Kenya, Malawi, and South Africa. The personal stories

from the BBC News article gain credibility because the BBC stands as one of the most

reputable news organizations in the world. The article conveys a personal touch through its

inclusion of doctor interviews and individual stories from people who live with HIV. The

double-checking of statistical data should happen through official sources because news

approaches content through storytelling methods.

4. Government Website: South African National Department of Health

This website (Department of Health, 2024) provides the latest information on HIV treatment,

prevention, and local health services in South Africa. Government sites like this one are

usually reliable because their goal is public education. This site covers antiretroviral therapy

(ART), HIV statistics, and awareness campaigns, and I find the information helpful for

understanding how different countries handle the epidemic.

5. Online Book

Life with HIV and AIDS by Lynn Barnes and Dr. Clive Evian (2006) is an old book but still

very useful. Dr. Evian is a medical expert, and the book explains the emotional and

psychological side of living with HIV in simple terms. While newer sources might have

updated medical facts, this book is still valuable for understanding patient experiences.

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Summary and Reflection

This assignment has pointed out how essential it is to verify source credibility because

incorrect knowledge about any other topic, for example, in my case, HIV, can lead to

significant issues. Several online sources lack credibility, which makes it essential for me to

follow this strategy:

● Expert authors (doctors, researchers, government agencies)

● Recent updates (especially for medical information)

● Clear references (like studies or official reports)

According to Brilliantio (2023), good writing depends on accurate information. If I use weak

and inaccurate sources, my arguments won't hold up as well as they won't be reliable. On the

other hand, when I choose reliable ones, my arguments in my work become stronger, and I

can share knowledge that does not harm people. Learning to evaluate sources is not just for

the sake of writing assignments, but I believe it is a skill I will use for life.

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References

BBC News. (2023, May 17). Living with HIV in Africa: Stories of strength and hope.

https://www.bbc.com/news/health

Brilliantio. (2023). Six essential elements of good writing. https://brilliantio.com/elements-of-

good-writing/

Department of Health. (2024). HIV and AIDS in South Africa. Republic of South Africa.

https://www.health.gov.za

HIV.gov. (2024). What is HIV?. https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/about-hiv-and-

aids/what-is-hiv

Nyblade, L., Stockton, M. A., Giger, K., Bond, V., Ekstrand, M. L., Lean, R. M., & Wouters,

E. (2019). Stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIV in sub-Saharan

Africa: A systematic review. BMC Public Health, 19(1), 1-15.

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-7656-1

Barnes, L., & Evian, C. (2006). Life with HIV and AIDS (2nd ed.). Awareness Publishing

Group.

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