Five Ws and an H: A Quick Introduction to Critical Thinking
When evaluating a source, even one you found in a library database, you need to look at it with a critical lens. Ask yourself a few questions:
WHO: Who wrote the article and who is it written for? Is the author in an expert in the subject or do they have a particular bias?
WHAT: What type of source is this: academic, popular, scholarly? What are the main messages or arguments?
WHERE: Where was the information published and where did you find it?
WHEN: Information changes pretty quickly, so it's good to keep an eye on when the article was published.
WHY: Everything is written for a reason! Was this written to inform you, educate you, elicit emotion, or sell you something?
HOW: How did the author come to their conclusions? Did they use research methods?
Fact Checking Links!
There are many sources available to evaluate media sources and check facts. You should always check your articles. Here are some other options:
Additional Evaluation Sources
Remember: There is no one magical tool for news evaluation. Think critically to find what works best for your intended use of the information, considering the reliability, bias, credibility and accuracy of the information.
Citation: Generation Z Peak [@generationzpeak}. (2020, Feb 2). Fun fact: You can avoid fake news by using these fact checking websites! #tiktokskwela #learnontiktok #edutokph# informationliteracy#f akenews [Video]. TikTok. https://bit.ly/3AM5dSH
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