Test your understanding of finding and evaluating information
The chapter states that "In college and the workforce, you will often be asked to defend your ideas. To do this, you'll need to build a case for them with arguments and evidence."
The chapter explicitly states that "An encyclopedia (like Wikipedia) is actually a great place to start your research because it provides general knowledge of topics. It also provides sources and further reading."
The chapter advises to "Rule out search items that you can't trust, such as clickbait, social media posts, and personal websites." The other options are recommended as trustworthy sources.
The chapter defines lateral reading as "the act of checking sources for credibility as you read them. You can use newspaper articles and fact-checking sites like Politifact and Snopes for this."
The chapter specifically mentions these two fact-checking sites: "You can use newspaper articles and fact-checking sites like Politifact and Snopes for this."
The chapter states you should determine authority by "finding out their professional background, the process they used to produce the information, and whether they have systems in place to catch mistakes."
The chapter asks "Does the author cite credible sources?" and advises to "Check the citations and make sure they come from trusted institutions."
The chapter states: "Credible sources are easy to fact check. If you can't find anything to back it up, it might not be trustworthy." The ability to find supporting information is what makes fact-checking possible.
The chapter defines purpose as "the intention of the author in writing this work. It can also mean the type of writing, such as a scientific paper, an email to your co-worker, or a cover letter."
The chapter explains that "Scientific papers are often intended for people in a specific field, whereas the newspaper is intended for the public." Understanding the intended audience helps determine how useful a source is for your research.