Question

read this excerpt from a passage and the works cited entry for the source listed below the excerpt.

dr. monica brinkly, dentist and spokesperson for clean n shiny toothpaste, thinks people should brush their teeth more frequently.
eally, brushing only twice a day is not enough to keep our teeth and gums healthy. people should brush and floss after each meal and snack in order for their teeth to stay clean and shiny.\

brinkly, monica. \how to keep teeth clean and shiny.\ dental associates of america annual conference, 17 may 2015, the conference center, orlando, fl. breakout session speech.

is this source credible or not credible, and why or why not?

this source is credible because it was from a speech given at a national trade conference.
this source is credible because dr. brinkly is a dental professional and therefore she is a trustworthy expert regarding the subject of dental hygiene.
this source is not credible because using content from any speech is not a reliable source to use in a research paper.
this source is not credible because dr. brinkly is a spokesperson for a toothpaste company, which stands to profit from people using its product more frequently.

Explanation:

Analyze the source details

Using the Works Cited Analysis knowledge point
The excerpt introduces Dr. Monica Brinkly as a dentist and a spokesperson for "Clean N' Shiny" toothpaste. The works cited entry shows she delivered a breakout session speech titled "How to Keep Teeth Clean and Shiny" at a dental conference.

Evaluate potential bias

Using the Identifying Author Bias knowledge point
Dr. Brinkly is a paid spokesperson for a specific toothpaste brand. Because she represents a commercial product, she has a financial interest in encouraging people to brush and floss more frequently, which directly increases toothpaste consumption and company profits. This commercial connection introduces a significant conflict of interest, making the source biased and not fully credible for objective research.

Assess the given options

• Option 1 suggests credibility based solely on the venue (a national trade conference), which ignores the speaker's commercial bias.
• Option 2 claims credibility because she is a dental professional, overlooking her role as a paid spokesperson.
• Option 3 incorrectly generalizes that all speeches are unreliable sources.
• Option 4 correctly identifies that the source is not credible because Dr. Brinkly's role as a spokesperson for a toothpaste company creates a profit-driven bias.

Answer:

• (A) This source is credible because it was from a speech given at a national trade conference.
• (B) This source is credible because Dr. Brinkly is a dental professional and therefore she is a trustworthy expert regarding the subject of dental hygiene.
• (C) This source is not credible because using content from any speech is not a reliable source to use in a research paper.
• (D) This source is not credible because Dr. Brinkly is a spokesperson for a toothpaste company, which stands to profit from people using its product more frequently. (Correct answer)