1. Media Literacy Research Project

2. Essential Question
What is credibility and how does one determine credibility of a source?

3. Research
What sources are available to provide information for research topics?
Internet
Books
Interviews
Videos/TV programs
Journals/Magazines (online or print)
Newspapers (online or print)

4. Research
What are the sources you are most likely to use for your research?
Online sources

5. How do you know if your sources are “trustworthy”?
The term used to describe “trustworthy” research sources is…
CREDIBILITY

6. Credibility
Who can you trust?

7. Six Criteria for Evaluating Websites
Authority
Currency
Accuracy
Scope
Objectivity
Documentation

8. Authority Who is responsible for the content?
What are the author’s qualifications?
Can you identify a parent organization or sponsor?
What are the qualifications of the parent organization or sponsor?

9. Currency When was the page written? When was the page published?
Was the page recently revised?

10. Accuracy Is the information recent where appropriate?
Is the information detailed and comprehensive?
Are sources listed for presented information?
Are there links to reputable outside sources?
Are there grammatical errors in the content?

11. Scope Is it an overview or is it specific information?
Is it too specific for your information needs?
Is it too general for your information needs? Do you need more detail?
Is there an intended audience?

12. Objectivity How much bias is evident in the content?
Does the content seem fair, balanced, and reasonable?
Are there any conflicts of interest?
Are they trying to sell you something?

13. Documentation Are there citations?
If it is a web site, does it link to other reputable sites?
It if is a web site, who links to the site that you are evaluating?
Are there graphs, tables, or illustrations to support the text?

14. Other ideas to consider…
Check the domain name
Look for “information” for source citation
The less information you can gather from the site, the less probable it is credible
Look at the “formatting” of the site
If it is difficult to navigate or has a lot of dead links, it might not be as credible

15. Example
“Burmese” Mountain Dog
Legitimate Site
Mankato, MN

16. Resources to Consider BHS Media Center Data Bases
SIRS
PROQUEST
Opposing Viewpoints
INFOTRAC
Why are these data bases good options for research?

17. Resources to Consider Reputable magazines, newspapers, or news sites
Newsweek
Time
New York Times
The Economist
Star Tribune
Pioneer Press
CNN
Etc…

18. Resources to Consider Center for Media Literacy PBS
Documentaries
Frontline
Interview a professional

19. Resources NOT to Consider
Wikipedia
Why?
Yahoo answers, about.com, similar sites.
Doing a general Google search

20. Suggestions for Researching
Print off sources—you will need to hand in the six sources you use for your annotated bibliography
Buy paper in ITC
Bring paper from home
Save and print at home

21. Suggestions for Researching
Print off articles as you find them
For homework each night
Actively read
Highlight
Underline
Notations in the margins
Writing in the Margins reading strategy
Take notes/collect information for research and annotated bibliography
Make sure to collect information for citations
Many data bases have “buttons” to click which will generate citation
Create citations in a timely manner

22. Bibliography—Assignment #2
Purpose: To create a list of possible sources to use as support in the research paper. Bibliography=All the sources considered Works Cited=Only the sources used in the paper.

23. Bibliography—Assignment #2
Suggestion: Create citations for each sources as you go. Reasoning: Then you will have a the list created and will only need to check formatting. IT WILL SAVE YOU TIME!

24. Bibliography—Assignment #2
Save your bibliography because you will be able to use the citations for your Annotated Bibliography—Assignment #4