Funafuti

Article summary

Funafuti is an atoll, comprising numerous islets, that is the capital of Tuvalu. As of the 2017 census, it has a population of 6,320 people. More people live in Funafuti than the rest of Tuvalu combined, with it containing approximately 60% of the nation's population. It is the world's easternmost capital of a sovereign state. The main islet, Fongafale, hosts Vaiaku, the administrative centre of the nation. Funafuti was first sighted by Europeans in 1819 by Arent Schuyler de Peyster, an American sea captain, who named it Ellice's Island. Between 1850 and 1875. In 1892, each of the Ellice Islands was declared a British protectorate by Captain Herbert Gibson of . In 1909, the first resident magistrate was appointed to Funafuti; in 1915, Funafuti, along with the rest of the Ellice Islands, were incorporated into the Gilbert and Ellice Islands as a crown colony. In October 1942, during World War II, Funafuti was occupied by American forces to serve as a strategic staging ground for the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign. Over the course of the war, the Americans dredged Funafuti's lagoon harbour and established the atoll's airfield, now known as Funafuti International Airport. In October 1972, Cyclone Bebe struck Funafuti, causing extensive damage; despite this Funafuti was chosen as the administrative capital of the newly founded nation of Tuvalu in 1978.…

Key claims

1. date of birth: 1936 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
2. date of birth: 1957-07-05 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
3. date of foundation: 1978 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
4. members: 1882, members — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
5. population: 6,320 people — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
6. population: 300 people — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
2. The record states that the date of birth is "1936". What evidence would count against this claim?
3. The record states that the date of birth is "1957-07-05". What evidence would count against this claim?
4. The record states that the date of foundation is "1978". What evidence would count against this claim?
5. The record states that the members is "1882, members". What evidence would count against this claim?
6. The record states that the population is "6,320 people". What evidence would count against this claim?
7. The record states that the population is "300 people". What evidence would count against this claim?
8. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
9. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1378967182