Original PromptActivity: Source Evaluation Chart
Now it's your turn to practice evaluating sources. This skill is essential for any journalist or researcher—learning to distinguish fact from fiction protects both you and your readers.
Gather Three Sources
Find three different sources about your chosen true crime case. Try to find a variety—maybe a news article, a social media post, and a court document.
Evaluate Each One
Label each source as credible, questionable, or unreliable. Ask yourself: Who wrote t...
In today's digital landscape, discerning the trustworthiness of sources is essential for effective research, journalism, and informed daily decision-making. The proliferation of information online means that anyone can publish anything, which can lead to the widespread dissemination of misinformation. A historical example is the chaos that ensued after the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013, where social media users attempted to identify suspects, inadvertently spreading false accusations against innocent individuals. This resource outlines the various levels of credibility—credible, questionable, and unreliable—along with specific attributes that characterize each level. It introduces a structured method for evaluating sources of information based on five key pillars: authority, accuracy, objectivity, currency, and coverage, along with practical activities for gathering and assessing evidence from true crime cases.