Directions
How do you know if what you read online (and in print) is fake or true?
Peter Adams from the News Literacy Project points out that even though we know how easy it is to create and distribute information online, many of us believe—and sometimes passionately—that the most suspicious rumors, tempting hoaxes, and far-fetched theories are true when, in fact, they’re not.
The Center for News Literacy explains it this way: “The most profound communications revolution since the invention of Gutenberg’s printing press seems to make it harder, not easier, to determine the truth.”
The digital revolution is characterized by a flood of information and misinformation that news consumers can access from anywhere at any time. News aggregators, bloggers, pundits, provocateurs, commentators and “citizen journalists” are competing with traditional journalists for public attention. Uninformed opinion masquerades as news. Lines are blurring between legitimate journalism and the propaganda, entertainment, self-promotion, and unmediated information on the Internet.
This superabundance of information has made it imperative that we learn to judge the reliability of news reports and other sources of information.
For this particular assignment, you will be conducting a short analysis of a contemporary news article.
An analysis of this type considers all elements of a news article—audience, purpose, medium, evidence (research and interviews), context, and effectiveness. In learning to write an article analysis, it is helpful to think about the relationships among these various elements, and how they work together to convey a message (whether it’s to report the news, make an argument, persuade an audience, etc.).
How to recognize “Fake News”:
Find a “news” article and summarize its main points.
Analyze the evidence (research and interviews) and appeals used in the article to support the writer’s main ideas. Are they convincing? Credible? What are the article’s weaknesses in logic and reasoning, research and reporting?
Evaluate the overall effectiveness of the article, and whether or not the approach used is successful.
This assignment requires a close reading of the article (perhaps several readings) and the ability to “deconstruct” and reassembly these parts into an essay.
Essay Requirements:
Presents a compelling and persuasive position
Supports this position with evidence and examples
Structures the essay in unified paragraphs
Uses effective transitions to move from paragraph to paragraph
Develops a reasonable conclusion that provides a satisfying closure
Displays an ability to use dynamic sentences and precise words, avoiding errors in grammar, punctuation, and language
MLA Format
Length: Roughly two pages (and a Works Cited page)
Failure to turn in drafts as requested will result in a lower grade on the essay
Note: Do not use dictionaries or Wikipedia.