FACT OR FICTION? INVESTIGATING MISINFORMATION THROUGH RESEARCH

Introduction

Subject: English 10 – Informational Texts and Research

Grade Level: Grade 10

Duration: 2–3 class periods

 

Every day, millions of people scroll through social media and encounter news, videos, and posts. But not everything online is true. False information spreads quickly and can influence opinions, decisions, and even public safety.

Imagine that you are part of a team of Digital Fact Checkers hired by a news organization. Your mission is to investigate an online claim, determine whether it is true or false, and present evidence that supports your conclusion.

Will you be able to separate facts from misinformation?

Task

Working in groups of four, you will investigate an online claim assigned by your teacher.

Your group will create a Fact-Checking Report and present your findings to the class.

Your report should include:

  • The online claim 
  • Evidence gathered from reliable sources 
  • Evaluation of each source's credibility 
  • Final verdict (True, False, Misleading, or Partly True) 
  • Reflection on why media literacy is important 

Process

Step 1: Form Your Team

Assign the following roles:

  • Research Leader 
  • Source Evaluator 
  • Evidence Organizer 
  • Presenter 

Step 2: Examine the Claim

Read the assigned online post carefully.

Identify:

  • Main claim 
  • Supporting statements 
  • Possible keywords for searching 

Step 3: Gather Information

Search for evidence using only credible sources.

Look for:

  • Government websites 
  • Educational institutions 
  • News organizations 
  • Scientific publications 

Collect at least three reliable sources.

Step 4: Evaluate Your Sources

Use the CRAAP Test:

  • Currency 
  • Relevance 
  • Authority 
  • Accuracy 
  • Purpose 

Complete a Source Evaluation Sheet.

Step 5: Analyze the Evidence

Compare information from all sources.

Ask:

  • Do the sources agree? 
  • Which evidence is strongest? 
  • Is the claim supported? 

Step 6: Make Your Verdict

Choose one:

  • True 
  • Mostly True 
  • Misleading 
  • Mostly False 
  • False 

Support your decision with evidence.

Step 7: Present Your Findings

Create a presentation that includes:

  • Introduction 
  • Claim 
  • Evidence 
  • Source Evaluation 
  • Final Verdict 
  • Reflection 

Evaluation

EVALUATION

Criteria Excellent (4) Good (3) Fair (2) Needs Improvement (1)
Research Quality Uses multiple reliable sources with excellent evidence Uses reliable sources with sufficient evidence Limited reliable evidence Sources are unreliable
Source Evaluation Correctly evaluates credibility Mostly correct Some inaccuracies Little evaluation
Analysis Insightful and logical conclusions Logical conclusions Basic analysis Weak or unsupported analysis
Presentation Clear, organized, engaging Organized Somewhat organized Difficult to follow
Collaboration All members contribute equally Most members contribute Uneven participation Little teamwork

Total: 20 points

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have completed your mission as Digital Fact Checkers.

Through this activity, you learned that responsible researchers do not accept information at face value. Instead, they question, investigate, evaluate sources, and make evidence-based conclusions.

As digital citizens, always remember:

Think before you share. Verify before you believe.

Reflect:

  1. What was the most difficult part of verifying information? 
  2. How will this activity change the way you use social media? 
  3. Why is critical thinking important in today's digital world? 

Credits

This WebQuest was developed for educational purposes to promote media literacy, critical thinking, and responsible research among Grade 10 learners.

References

Teacher Page

Title

Fact or Fiction? Investigating Misinformation Through Research

Subject Area

English 10 – Informational Texts and Research

Grade Level

Grade 10

Time Required

Two to three 60-minute class periods

Curriculum Alignment

This WebQuest supports the development of learners' ability to:

  • evaluate the credibility of information from various sources; 
  • distinguish facts from misinformation; 
  • conduct basic online research using reliable references; 
  • communicate findings through oral and written presentations; and 
  • demonstrate responsible digital citizenship. 

Learning Objectives

By the end of this WebQuest, students should be able to:

  1. Identify credible and non-credible online sources. 
  2. Apply source evaluation strategies (e.g., the CRAAP Test). 
  3. Gather and synthesize evidence from reliable references. 
  4. Develop an evidence-based conclusion regarding an online claim.  
  5. Present research findings clearly and collaboratively. 

Prerequisite Knowledge

Students should already be familiar with:

  • Basic Internet searching 
  • Reliable vs. unreliable sources 
  • Group collaboration 
  • Presentation software (PowerPoint, Canva, or Google Slides) 

Materials Needed

  • Computer, laptop, or tablet 
  • Internet connection 
  • Presentation software 
  • Fact-Checking Report template 
  • Source Evaluation Sheet 
  • Rubric 
  • Projector (for presentations) 

Teacher's Role

During the activity, the teacher serves as a facilitator by:

  • assigning or approving online claims to investigate; 
  • guiding students in locating credible resources; 
  • monitoring group collaboration; 
  • providing feedback throughout the inquiry process; and 
  • assessing student outputs using the provided rubric. 

Student Grouping

Groups of 3–4 students

Assessment

Students will be evaluated based on:

  • Research Quality (20%) 
  • Source Evaluation (20%) 
  • Analysis and Reasoning (25%) 
  • Presentation Skills (20%) 
  • Collaboration and Participation (15%) 

Total: 100%

Extension Activities

Students may:

  • Create their own fact-checking infographic. 
  • Analyze viral social media posts related to current events. 
  • Produce a short educational video on identifying misinformation. 
  • Write a reflective essay on responsible digital citizenship.