It often feels overwhelming and difficult to evaluate a source. There are many factors to consider, however, there are some highly effective strategies that help students and researchers navigate source evaluation.
We will be using Double Entry Journal to learn the lateral reading digital literacy strategy.
Lateral reading refers to a strategy to evaluate a source by looking for information on the source from an outside perspective. When you look for evidence about a source outside of that source. It can help you see through misleading or false information.
We will look at this website: “Learn how to decipher packaged food labels and avoid harmful ingredients” and verify it for credibility using Lateral Reading.
Step 1: Use the Double Entry Journal Format to take notes (you can use your own paper or Notability).
Step 2: Search through the website, what evidence do you see that we might want to consider.
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?
Share your findings with others.
Find another article about how to read nutrition labels, and verify it for credibility.
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.
