Project 2: Inquiry Blog SER Charts

Source 1
Summary: The New York Times article, The Global Refugee Crisis, Region by Region, is
about the current refugee crisis what the United Nations says has become the worst migration
crisis since World War II. The article goes region by region and lists the important locations
and stats for each area. The regions included in the article are the Balkans, the Middle East,
Southeast Asia, the Mediterranean Sea, and Eastern Europe. The authors of this article are trying
to inform their readers about the extent of the humanitarian crisis that has spread globally. While
the main objective of the article is to inform, the authors are also trying to prove that this crisis is
wide spread and significant.
Evaluation: This is a very useful source for my research. The article contains a plethora of
statistics and locations. The specificity in the article is the most appealing aspect because it
allows me to develop a thorough thought. I want to use the main claims and statistics to begin
my paper. I think the quote from the UN, A look at hot spots in what the United Nations says
has become the worst migration crisis since World War II would be a very strong opener for the
paper. After writing about the specific locations and statistics, I want to jump into the stories of
specific people and their experiences.
Reflection: Before reading this article, I thought that the refugee crisis was more concentrated
than it actually is. Id only really seen coverage of the people fleeing Syria. Now, I see that there
are refugees who need Americas help, in regions and countries across the globe. I think that
people need to be more aware of just how widespread this crisis is. I had no idea that areas in
Eastern Europe were struggling so severely. I also wasnt aware of the actual numbers in regard
to the crisis. By that, I mean that I knew millions of people were displaced, but I didnt know the
exact figures.
Citation (APA style): Peanha, P. B. (2015, June 08). The Global Refugee Crisis, Region by
Region. Retrieved October 10, 2017, from
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/06/09/world/migrants-global-refugee-crisis-
mediterranean-ukraine-syria-rohingya-malaysia-iraq.html
 Source 2
Summary: This source differs from the others that Ive looked at. Instead of being in article
form, this source is a timeline, beginning in April 2011. I think that this is a really effective way
to display the information because it allows the audience to see just how long this crisis has been
going on. Each date is paired with a visually stimulating multimedia element and a brief caption.
I think that the displays of the information are very effective in conveying the main points that
the author is trying to highlight. As the timeline continues, each year, the severity of the crisis
appears to increase, almost to the point that the information is overwhelming. I think that the
author is trying to show how intense the crisis is, and does so through the abundance of
information.
Evaluation: Im trying to convey just how extreme the refugee crisis is. I think that the timeline
did a very effective job in showing just how long and how constant the crisis is. Beginning in
2011 and continuing through to present day. I plan to use a lot of the information presented in
this timeline. I think that counting the number of noted events per year and providing those
statistics would be an effective way to show how the continual the crisis is. This information
could be useful both in the introduction and throughout the paper.
Reflection: I knew that the refugee crisis was an ongoing phenomenon, but I didnt realize how
many notable individual events there were each year. Im surprised at how the number of events
appeared to increase each year, I expected a consistent number or a decrease. It was interesting to
learn about the countries that made pledges to help these people. The involvement and focuses of
the UNHCR are also interesting. I learned just how involved some countries are, and how
uninvolved others are.
Citation (APA style): Timeline. (n.d.). Retrieved October 10, 2017, from
http://syrianrefugees.eu/timeline/
 Source 3

Summary: The main purpose of this article is to inform. The author organizes this article in a

fairly blunt, who, what, when, where, why, format. There are charts, maps, and graphs that are

loaded with statistics. There is a whole section dedicated to how the migrants and refugees get to

their safe zones. I think that the author wants to show their audience just how severe the crisis is,

and encourage them to get educated and involved. People need to be aware of whats going on in

the world, and the author of this article is helping spread awareness.

Evaluation: This source provides a simple list of the most important information related to this

topic. The information is presented in an easy to understand format which will be easy to transfer

over to my project. I think that I will focus a lot on the information about how the refugees get

here, and the high chance of death, because it has a strong emotional appeal. I want people to be

informed of the facts, but I also want to encourage them to act and help these people who really

need it. I think that this information would be most effective at the end of my paper because then

I can close with a strong emotional appeal.

Reflection: This article provided me with a lot more personal details than the others have. The

process of getting here and the things that these people risk are incredible. I think that an

emotional appeal is typically the most effective form of persuasion. People inherently care about

other people, so I want to take advantage of that in my paper. This cause is important and it

needs to have more light shed on it.

Citation (APA style): Migrant crisis: Migration to Europe explained in seven charts. (2016,

March 04). Retrieved October 10, 2017, from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-

34131911
 Source 4

Summary: This source is different from the others because its about one specific story, one

family, one immense struggle. The author is informing their audience about the incredible

sacrifices that refugees have to make. The article depicts the choices that are essentially life and

death. This article has an extreme emotional appeal. The story is ordered chronologically and

utilizes emotional and vivid language to convey the extreme struggles of this family.

Evaluation: I think that this source will help me show my audience just how immense the

struggles that refugees face are. I dont think that the general population realizes just how small

of a window these people have to get and answer the call that they so desperately need. The

information presented in this source will be useful in either the intro or the conclusion of my

paper because I can start or leave readers with a feeling, one that may inspire them to act.

Reflection: Before reading this article, I was unaware that refugees had to answer a phone call to

get where they needed to go. I didnt realize just how strict the process was. I knew that these

people faced struggles but reading about a specific situation really opened my eyes to just how

intense the journey is for those who want to escape. After reading and researching so much about

these people Im inspired to act, and to spread the word of what is really happening. I think that

humans need to help each other, politics aside.

Citation: A Syrian Family Waits to Learn Their Fate. (n.d.). Retrieved October 11, 2017, from

http://time.com/4665014/finding-home-syrian-families-greece/
 Source 5

Summary: This source is different from the rest because it does have a noticeable bias. The

source openly encourages the support of the organization, which helps refugees. The author

wants to inform and persuade. The article starts with the statistics and transitions into the

information on the cause, and the subtle ask for help. The author not only includes information

and statistics about refugees, but about the organization. The author emphasizes the contributions

from volunteers, which is an effort to encourage the audience to join the cause.

Evaluation: The statistics in this source will be useful when trying to convey how wide spread

this crisis is. I think that people respond well to numbers and statistics because it gives them a

scale to go off of. When it comes to the information about the organization, I think I will use it to

encourage others to get involved. I think its important for people to know about organizations

like this, because if they want to help out, they can.

Reflection: Before reading this article, I didnt know much about the UNHCR organization. This

is one of my later sources so I had already learned ab lot about the statistics around the refugee

crisis, but I hadnt read much about the efforts to help them. I was pleased to see that the efforts

are extensive and ongoing. I want these people to get the help that they need, and deserve. To

me, this isnt a political issue. Its a human rights issue and its something that needs to be taken

seriously.

Citation: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (n.d.). Figures at a Glance.

Retrieved October 11, 2017, from http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/figures-at-a-glance.html

 Source 6

Summary: This article is efficient and to the point. The author wants to inform the audience

about the severity of the refugee crisis and they do this through statistics and numbers. The

article is neat and easy to navigate. There isnt a particular order for the statistics, at least not one

that had an intended impact. The author throws in some commentary along with the numbers

which makes the article flow and creates smooth transitions.

Evaluation: The information in this article will help me build my case and demonstrate how

critical it is that these people and countries receive aid. I think that this information could be used

anywhere in the paper, but would be best suited in the middle, to create a strong and informative

body.

Reflection: This source didnt bring any new concepts to the table, but definitely provided solid

statistics that will help with credibility in my paper. I think that people respond well to statistics

because it is something solid and real that they can rely on. Wih this source, just like the others,

reading it made me want to make a difference. The fact that 20 people are displaced every

minute is shocking. These people need help, they deserve help, and they should get it.

Citation: Myre, G. (2015, September 08). The Migrant Crisis, By The Numbers. Retrieved

October 11, 2017, from http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2015/09/08/438539779/the-

migrant-crisis-by-the-numbers