This session will look at how we examine resources carefully and critically.
1/Analyze an article by Neil Postman on what to look for in chosing resources to use for a speech.
2/ Apply those criteria to specific sites. How to spot fake news/misinformation.
3/Look at features of a Research Guide created for this class that highlights academic databases.Examples. Finding resources on "the academic conversation."
Reviewing Postman's article here are the Red Flags he mentions:
The other Red Flags mentioned in class are:
All of these things help us to distinguish opinion and fact and to critically analyze what we choose to provide as supporting factual evidence for our own claims.
In class:
1/How to spot fake news. Consider the source. Check the author. Check the date. Check your biases. Read beyond. Does the source provide supporting sources? is it a joke? Ask the experts?
2/Investigate the article given to you based on the above criteria.
3/Place the parent source on the whiteboard continuum.
Garbage-Fake news-Biased-Advocacy-Objective/Neutral-Government Site-Factual but not peer reviewed-Well supported with credible, supporting evidence-Peer Reviewed.
1. One of the first things to think about is what are the kinds of sources to use in giving a speech?
Start with Zondervan Library tools and resources. Why?
The content is reliable and the statistics are solid.
2. Next consider the credibility of what you have found.
Here is an easy way to remember what to look for when evaluating the information that you find. These questions will help you assess what you might find most useful. CARS: Credibility, Accuracy, Reasonableness, Support
Credibility. Is this source trustworthy? What are the author’s credentials? Is he or she known or a respected authority on this topic? Is there evidence of quality control? Goal: an authoritative source, a source that supplies some good evidence that allows you to trust it.
Accuracy. Is the informatio up to date, factual, detailed, exact, comprehensive? What is the intended audience and purpose? Does it reflect intentions of completeness and accuracy. Goal: a source that is correct today (not yesterday), a source that gives the whole truth.
Reasonableness. Is the presentation fair, balanced, objective, reasoned? Can you find that the author has no conflict of interest? Is there an absence of fallacies or slanted tone. Goal: a source that engages the subject thoughtfully and reasonably, concerned with the truth.
Support: Does this information provide background sources or references? Is there contact information for the author? Are claims supported, documentated and corroborated?. Goal: a source that provides convincing evidence for the claims made, a source you can triangulate (that is are you able to find at least two other sources (non web) that support it).
taken from Virtual Salt. Robert Harris http://www.virtualsalt.com/evalu8it.htm
3. Synthesizing the sources. Once you have gathered a variety of sources, look over them and determine how they fit together and relate to your topic.