Question
For what purpose does the author list sources of media coverage of the authorship controversy at the beginning of the selection? Cite textual
evidence to support your answer.
Answer
The author lists sources of media coverage of the authorship controversy at the beginning of the selection to provide evidence for the existence and significance of the controversy. This is evident from the following sentence in the text: "The controversy has been covered extensively in the media, with articles appearing in The New York Times, The Guardian, and other major publications."