It often feels overwhelming and difficult to evaluate a source, especially a news article when the information shared is new and fluid.
There are many factors to consider, however, there are some highly effective strategies that help students and researchers navigate news literacy
We will be using Double Entry Journal to analyze credibility using Lateral Reading.
Lateral reading refers to a strategy to evaluate a source by looking for information from an outside perspective. This could mean you use an outside source (like Google) to find more information about the original news organization. But it could also mean that you use other news articles to find additional context and information about the story.
Key Take Aways
Students will be able to evaluate the authenticity, accuracy, appropriateness, and bias of an online source.
Students will be able to textual evidence to draw a conclusion about authority.
Go to AllSides.com and find at least two articles about the same topic. You will complete a Double Entry Journal for each article.
Step 1: Use the Double Entry Journal Format to take notes (you can use your own paper or Notability).
Step 2: Read the first article.
Step 3: What evidence is a green flag, wand what evidence is a red flag?
Step 4: Read Laterally. What evidence do you find
Step 5: What of the evidence is a green flag and what is a read flag?
Step 6: At the bottom of your Double Entry Journal answer this question: Based on your evidence is this a credible source?
Complete steps 1-6 with the second article.
Does the bias of the news organization greatly affect the credibility?
Share your findings with others.
Did they come to a similar conclusion as you?
Use the Double Entry Journal to take notes when evaluating a website with the lateral reading strategy.
*A red flag does not automatically disqualify a publication, but you should carefully consider what that red flag might mean.
Recopy this format on your own paper or in Notability. Or you can open this PDF template in Notability for taking notes.
