Introduction
Have you ever shared an article online without fact-checking it first or sharing it after only reading the title? Sharing false information comes with consequences so it is important to know how to tell what a credible source looks like. A reliable source provides a thorough, well-reasoned theory, argument, or discussion, based on strong evidence. In this webquest, you will learn the qualities of a credible source and an acronym to help you remember the steps in evaluating a source.
Task
Students will evaluate a news article and answer the following questions:
1. What is credibility?
2. Were you able to easily come to a conclusion using the E.S.C.A.P.E method? Why or why not?
3. Would you say this article is from a credible source? Why or why not?
4. Which step do you think was the most helpful in determining the reliability of this source? Why?
Process
Watch the TED Talk on the dangers of spreading fake news.
Watch the video to understand what it means to be credible and why we care.
Read this article:
Consider the E.S.C.A.P.E acronym when trying to avoid fake news.
E - Evidence
- Do the facts hold up? Look for information you can verify--names, stats, places, quotes, etc.
S - Source
- Who made this and can you trust them? Trace who touched the story--authors, publishers, sponsors, funders, social media users, etc.
C - Context
- What's the big picture? Consider if this is the whole story and weigh other forces surrounding it--current events, cultural trends, political goals, financial pressures
A - Audience
- Who is the intended audience? Look for attempts to appeal to specific groups or types of people--image choices, presentation techniques, language, content
P - Purpose
- Why was this made? Look for clues to the motivation--the publisher's mission, persuasive language or images, moneymaking tactics, stated or unstated agendas, calls to action
E - Execution
- How is this information presented? Consider how the way it's made affects the impact--style, grammar, tone, image choices, placement and layout
Use what you have learned to answer the discussion questions in the ‘Task’ section.
Evaluation
Rubric:
Excellent: Gave a complete response to all questions with detailed explanations. Went above the requirements for the assignment. Shows complete understanding of the topic. No grammatical Errors.
Great: Solid response to all questions with clear explanation. Meets all requirements for the assignment. Shows substantial understanding of the topic. No grammatical errors.
Needs Improvement: Responses for questions are unclear. Hardly meets requirements for the assignment. Shows some understanding of the topic. Some grammatical errors.
Poor: Missing key points. Doesn’t meet requirements for the assignment. Shows little understanding of the topic. Several grammatical issues.
Conclusion
Fake news is everywhere! Spreading it comes with consequences. Make sure you know how to E.S.C.A.P.E it!
A credible source is one that provides a thorough, well-reasoned theory, argument, or discussion, based on strong evidence.
Using credible sources protects your credibility as a writer, researcher, etc.
Credits