critically reading and assessing sources

© Amanda Strong 2008© Amanda Strong 2008

Critically Reading Critically Reading and Assessing and Assessing

SourcesSources

"I write to discover what I "I write to discover what I think."think."

Daniel Boorstin, former librarian of CongressDaniel Boorstin, former librarian of Congress

© Amanda Strong 2008

►Critical thinking widens your Critical thinking widens your knowledge and deepens your knowledge and deepens your understanding. It weighs evidence and understanding. It weighs evidence and theories for validity. It examines as theories for validity. It examines as many sides of an argument as many sides of an argument as possible. It applies reason to common possible. It applies reason to common sense. It challenges your own ideas sense. It challenges your own ideas and concepts.and concepts.


What is critical thinking?What is critical thinking?

►Combines science or fact and common Combines science or fact and common sensesense

► Involves Involves dissecting ideas for credibilitydissecting ideas for credibility thinking ‘behind the scenes’ thinking ‘behind the scenes’ not blindly taking information at face not blindly taking information at face

valuevalue

►Encourages rational scepticismEncourages rational scepticism


What is What is media literacymedia literacy ? ?

►Subfield of critical thinkingSubfield of critical thinking

►““Media literacy is the ability to sift Media literacy is the ability to sift through and analyse the messages through and analyse the messages that inform, entertain and sell to us that inform, entertain and sell to us everyday.”everyday.”

Canadian Media Awareness Canadian Media Awareness

NetworkNetwork


Sources of informationSources of information

►Newspapers and television newsNewspapers and television news►Websites, blogs and podcastsWebsites, blogs and podcasts►Documentaries, videos, movies, radioDocumentaries, videos, movies, radio►Social mediaSocial media

YouTube, Facebook, blogs, livejournal, YouTube, Facebook, blogs, livejournal, podcastspodcasts

►MagazinesMagazines►Academic journalsAcademic journals►BooksBooks


Media literacyMedia literacy

Who is this message intended for? Who is this message intended for? Who wants to reach this audience, and Who wants to reach this audience, and

why? why? From whose perspective is this story told? From whose perspective is this story told? Whose voices are heard, and whose are Whose voices are heard, and whose are

absent? absent? What strategies does this message use to What strategies does this message use to

get my attention and make me feel get my attention and make me feel included?included?


Media literacy & critical Media literacy & critical thinkingthinking

►What do you mean by_______________? What do you mean by_______________? ►How did you come to that conclusion? How did you come to that conclusion? ►What is the source of your information? What is the source of your information? ►What assumption has led you to that What assumption has led you to that

conclusion? conclusion? ►Why is this issue significant? Why is this issue significant? ►How do I know that what you are saying is How do I know that what you are saying is

true? true? ►What is an alternate explanation for this What is an alternate explanation for this

phenomenon? phenomenon?


Newspaper ExerciseNewspaper Exercise

► Break into groups and discuss your articleBreak into groups and discuss your article What story is this article trying to tell?What story is this article trying to tell? Why did this story made it into the news?Why did this story made it into the news? What may have been included or left out of the story?What may have been included or left out of the story? What factors may be influencing how the story is told?What factors may be influencing how the story is told? Does the story show bias? Does the story show bias? How would you describe the headlines (serious, playful, How would you describe the headlines (serious, playful,

shocking, literal)?shocking, literal)? What does the headline say about the story?What does the headline say about the story? What roles does the headline play in this story?What roles does the headline play in this story? Could the story be told a different way or from a different Could the story be told a different way or from a different

perspective?perspective? Is the information in the story accurate?Is the information in the story accurate? How credible is the story?How credible is the story?


Finding InformationFinding Information

►LibraryLibrary Books and encyclopediasBooks and encyclopedias Academic databasesAcademic databases JournalsJournals

► InternetInternet► InterviewsInterviews

FriendsFriends ExpertsExperts


InternetInternet

►Good for background informationGood for background information►Approach with cautionApproach with caution

anyone can write anything on the Internetanyone can write anything on the Internet critical thinking is keycritical thinking is key


InternetInternet► What is the purpose of the website? To inform? to What is the purpose of the website? To inform? to

sell? To entertain? To dissuade?sell? To entertain? To dissuade?► What kind of website is it? Personal page? Commercial What kind of website is it? Personal page? Commercial

or business site? Educational site?or business site? Educational site?► Who owns/funds the website? Is it clearly disclosed? Who owns/funds the website? Is it clearly disclosed?

(Use whois.net)(Use whois.net)► Who writes or ‘gatekeeps’ the content on the website? Who writes or ‘gatekeeps’ the content on the website?

Are they credible? (Look at the “About Us” page)Are they credible? (Look at the “About Us” page)► Is the information current? Does it say when it was Is the information current? Does it say when it was

“last updated”?“last updated”?► Is the information based on fact (and referenced) or is Is the information based on fact (and referenced) or is

it an opinion? If it is an opinion, is that clear?it an opinion? If it is an opinion, is that clear?► Does the site reference print and other non-Internet Does the site reference print and other non-Internet

sources?sources?


Health InformationHealth Information

► The number one reason for Internet The number one reason for Internet searches is health informationsearches is health information ! !

►Hard for most of us to evaluateHard for most of us to evaluate Science / technical informationScience / technical information May be emotional topic for usMay be emotional topic for us Not always clear when the goal is to sellNot always clear when the goal is to sell

► A lot of health information on the Internet is A lot of health information on the Internet is to sell a product!to sell a product! Know purpose and sponsors before trusting Know purpose and sponsors before trusting

informationinformation


Paid AdvertisingPaid Advertising

Gov’t of Manitoba √

Magazines


Where are thereferences????


In-class ExerciseIn-class Exercise

►Pick a topic and do an Pick a topic and do an Internet Internet searchsearch►Assess some of the sources of Assess some of the sources of

informationinformation